STATUS UNCHANGED

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

STATUS UNCHANGED

ITALIAN WAR CAPTIVES NEEDED FOR FARM WORK (11 a.m.) LOND9N, Oct. 14. The decision to recognise Italy as a co-belligerent in no way affects the status of the 400,000 Italian prisoners 1 n Allied hands, says The Times. The question raises important man-power issues. There are about 80,000 Italian prisoners of war in Britain, 35,000 oi whom are engaged in agriculture. "The Italians, apart from voluntary workers, are the only source of additional land man-power because recruiting for the land army has been suspended and their withdrawal when the maximum production of food is of the utmost urgency, would be strongly opposed by those responsible tor maintaining the food supply. “A co-belligerent Italy can render valuable service to her own and the Allied cause by the organisation 01 tier labour for food production, botn inside and outside Italy. Similarly, .he status of Italians interned in dritain and the Dominions will not be affected.” , . .. „ The Daily Telegraph says that the Home Office reviewed all cases when Italy surrendered and several uitcrnees were released conditionally. The remainder, about 1800, mainly Fascists are likely to remain in internment lor the duration of the war.