NO PLEDGES GIVEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21227, 16 October 1943, Page 3

NO PLEDGES GIVEN

BRITISH MINISTRY ATTITUDE T 0 ITALY FUTURE DEPENDS ON AID (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Oct. 13. The Leader of the House of Lords, Viscount Cranborne, replying for the Government in the debate on the position regarding Marshal Badoglio and his associates, said: “Our relations with the Italian Government are based on the armistice terms. No obligations' have been entered into and no promises given. The most we have told the Italian Government is that the extent to which the surrender terms will be modified in their application will depend upon the degree of assistance which Italy renders to us in the future prosecution of the war against Germany. It is clear that the position under the armistice is in no way altered by King Victor Emmanuel's declaration of war on Germany. It is true that we welcome the declaration as earnest of his intention to exert all the force in his power against what has become the common enemy, but that does not involve the United Nations, or any member of’the United Nations, in any further obligations to Italy. There are no secrets or implied commitments of any kind.”

Identity of Views

Viscount Cranborne said the threePower statement on Italy’s action was, he believed, the first time that such a document had been issued jointly by Britain, United States and Russia, and was very satisfactory evidence of the identity of views and the closeness of collaboration between them on tiiis question. It was the Government’s intention that the present Italian Government should be broadened by the inclusion of representatives of all anti-Fascist elements and both the King and Marshal Badoglio had stated that they intended to build up such a Government. Meanwhile, we should be glad to see the arrival of any democratic leaders in Italy. Every facility had been given for the return of Count Sforza, a former Foreign Minister. He saw Mr. Winston Churchill and the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, and was now on his way to Italy. Referring to the criticism of having had any dealings with King Victor Emmanuel and Marshal Badoglio, Viscount Cranborne pointed out the necessity for the Allies to deal with some authority. It appeared to them that the King and Marshal Badoglio had the necessary authority. “Both before and since the armistice they have acted towards us in good faith and have done their utmost to comply loyally with the armistice conditions,” he said.

As regards General Ambrosio and General Roatta an inquiry had already been insituted and, if the grave charges made against them were substantiated, appropriate action would be taken. The Government certainly did not desire the inclusion in the Italian Government of any man who was proved responsible for acts of barbarity against any of the United Nations.