SOVIET PROPOSAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 18 April 1944, Page 5

SOVIET PROPOSAL

POLITICAL SITUATION IN ITALY PLAN TO UNITE ANTI-FASCISTS Rugby, April 16. The Russian attitude to the future political situation in Italy was outlined to-night by M. Vyshinsky, Depu-ty-Foreign Commissar, who has been a \ member of the Mediterranean Advisory ! Commission. In a statement quoted by j Moscow radio he said: “At the present j lime Italy is a great base of the Allies j and of great importance in speeding up i the German defeat. Seven months ; have passed since the armistice was j signed with the Badoglio Government. This should have been sufficiently long ; for the democratic., anti-Fascist forces j in Italy to unite, but instead they are j fighting each other. •On one side is the Badoglio Govern- j

ment. supported by certain circles of the population who are prepared to take part in the democracies’ common struggle against oppression, and on the other side an executive junta which has on its side a broadly-based coalition of democratic elements, expressing their wish to act together with the Allies. “Such a situation is only favourable to the enemy of the Allies. To eliminate the situation and secure a union of the create without delay a Government democratic, anti-Fascist elements, to that is able to collaborate with all these forces, is in the interests of the Allies and is indispensable to speed up the German defeat. “Because of the above facts the Soviet Government, supporting efforts to eliminate the friction among the political groups who are ready to take part in the fight of the Allies, has turned to the Governments of the United States and Britain with a proposal of a joint inquiry on measures to unite the democratic, anti-Fascist forces in liberated Italy. This could be done by bringing into the Badoglio Government represent a ives of those other anti-Fascist parties. ADVISORY COMMITTEE’S VIEW "As is known, the Moscow conference, which laid down a solid basis for joint activities of the Allies also in Italy, showed clearly that it was necessary that the Italian Government should Deconic more democratic by taking in representatives of all sections of the Italian people which were always active against Fascism. Following upon a recent exchange of views between the Soviet Union, the United States and Britain, the question was referred to the Advisory Committee on Italy. “This, in a resolution adopted a few days ago. declared that it would welcome a satisfactory solution of the Government question and the immediate formation by Marshal Badoglio of a Goverm..en on a broad basis representing all parties. The committee, moreover, stated that it was necessary that the new Government should take over all engagements entered upon by the Badoglio Government toward the Allies and be responsible for every decision on cons'itutional questions which may now be taken to be effective till the Italian people are able freely to express their opinion. “This decision of the committee, expressing the common view of the Allies, is in accordance with the above proposals made by the Soviet Government. Without any doubt it is a step forward in the cause of solving the question of the political situation in Italy.” NEW GOVERNMENT TO BE FORMED (Rec. 11.45 a.m.) London, April 17. Reuters Naples correspondent says I the resignation of the Badoglio GovernI ment has been foreshadowed to enable ! Marshal Badoglio to form a Governj ment on a much wider basis, j The Naples correspondent of the Ex- | change Telegraph Agency says that ; " hen Marshal Badoglio visited King | Victor Emmanuel offering his resignation the King refused to accept and : asked Marshal Badoglio to re-form the : , Government. j The new Cabinet will probably be an- j I pounced to-morrow. It is expected to | include one member from each' of the I six opposition parties.