POLITICAL INTRIGUE DENIED

Southland Times, Issue 25546, 14 December 1944, Page 5

POLITICAL INTRIGUE DENIED

Count Sforza Replies To Mr Churchill (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) ROME, December 12. Count Carlo Sforza, replying to the statement by Mr Churchill and Mr Eden in the House of Commons last week referring to his two-hour conference with Mr Churchill on October 11, 1943, before his return to Italy, stated: “The greater part of that conference was occupied mainly in bringing strong pressure to bear upon me to accept King Victor Emmanuel, regardless, of his responsibility for Fascism, for the war against Britain and for the consequent calamitous defeat.” Count Sforza stated that he left no doubts with Mr Churchill regarding his attitude on this subject, and when he returned to Italy everything confirmed to him the necessity for the elimination of Victor Emanuel. He loyally collaborated with Marshal Badoglio after the King’s withdrawal. “Mr Churchill seems to attribute Marshal Badoglio’s ultimate expulsion to me and my intrigues,” said Count Sforza. “It was actually the Committee of National Liberation of Rome which unanimously demanded, with extreme frankness and with no intrigues, the elimination of Marshal Badoglio. I took no part in the epi sode.”