BADOGLIO REGIME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25299, 9 August 1943, Page 3

BADOGLIO REGIME

SOCIALIST OPPOSITION A DEMAND FOR PEACE j (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 7. The Italian Socialist Party, aiming to secure immediate peace and the abolition of the monarchy, has issued an eight-point political programme, calling for a general strike of all the elements opposed to Marshal Badoglio’s regime, says Reuter’s correspondent on the ItalianSwiss frontier. The Swiss newspaper Ulksrecht gives the points, which are as follows: 1. Opposition to a war dictatorship. 2. Opposition to Badoglio’s present regime of Fascism without Mussolini, which is directing precautionary measures merely against Fascist corruption instead of against Fascism itself. 3. Opposition to a military, dynastic, and capitalistic hierarchy. 4. Opposition to the so-called Liberal elements which Badoglio is employing to influence public opinion in his favour. 5. Continuation on the inner front of the fight for democracy. 6. Immediate peace—which does not necessarily mean acceptance of any terms imposed by the victors—and termination of the military alliance with Germany and Japan. 7. Restoration of political freedom and a democratic republic in which workers, peasants, bourgeois and intellectuals will be united. 8. The calling of a general strike aimed to release political prisoners and interned subjects, the cessation of hostilities, and the restoration of the freedoms of the press, the trade unions and political beliefs. Sacrificed to Panic The statement claimed that the panic-stricken Grand Council tried to avert a popular revolution “by sacrificing Mussolini and some of the Fascist symbols while entrusting power to the militarists.” It described Badoglio’s regime as a final attempt to preserve the existing social conditions. “Badoglio served Mussolini tfor 21 years,” continues the statement, “ assisting him to suppress internal opposition and accomplish his imperialistic designs, including the subjugation of Abyssinia, Fascist intervention in Spain, and Italy’s entry into this war. Our course is therefore clear —we must oppose Badoglio’s regime.” Reports from Zurich state that five political parties in Mil£n and Turin held a joint meeting to-day to form an action committee. The parties are reported to agree that the general political situation demands energetic steps to comply with the wishes of the majority of the people, and intend to hand an outspoken memorandum to Badoglio on Monday. Ribbentrop in Italy Herr von Ribbentrop arrived in Italy yesterday and had a conference with Signor Guariglia, the Foreign Secretary. The Berne correspondent of the New York Times says that one of the most important purposes of Ribbentrop’s visit is believed to be to discuss the fate of Mussolini. Guariglia is also expected to discuss conditions under which evacuation of the Italian divisions from the Balkans and Greece can be expedited. Twenty-three prominent Fascists and industrialists, including Count Ciano and Signor Scorza, have been charged with war profiteering and corruption. This is reported to be only the first batch to face the Badoglio Government’s tribunals. Reuter states that a list of names of those charged appeared in the Italian newspapers yesterday. It included directors of the Fiat, Viscosa, Monte Cattino, and Ansaldo concerns. Many corrupt dealings in other Axis countries were revealed in Mussolini’s private files. The Swiss radio Says it is reported from the Vatican that the Pope is remaining at his summer residence, Castle Gandolfo, owing to present circumstances. . _ , The Free Italy Movement m London resolved to call on the anti-Fascist elements in Italy immediately .to open negotiations for peace and friendship with the Allies on the basis of the rights of the people according to the Atlantic Charter. The resolution which was forwarded to Mr Churchill and Mr Eden, will be broadcast to Italy tod3The wholesale evacuation of German civilians from Italy, which started last night, is interpreted in well-informed Italian circles as evidence of Berlin’s certainty'that Italy is about to become a battlefield, either with Allied bombs raining down on German positions or vice versa, says the Berne correspondent of the New York Times. Moreover, it is the first outward sign that Badoglio’s plans and hopes for the neutralisation of Italy have been dashed either through the Germans’ refusal to accept his 10point nroposition or the Allies’ refusal to acknowledge these overtures. An organised anti-German demonstration occurred as 1500 evacuess left the Milan station-for Vienna. Boos, catcalls, and whistling led to numerous arrests. Similar trains are scheduled to leave from Rome, Turin, Florence, Bologna, and Venice during the night.