POSSIBLE PEACE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 41, 19 February 1943, Page 5

POSSIBLE PEACE

MUSSOLINI’S MOUTHPIECE TALKS NO PARLEY WITH RUSSIA (Recd. 6 p.m.) London, Feb. 17. Signor Gayda, Mussolini’s mouthpiece, yesterday made the first open discussion of a compromise peace. Writing in the Giornale d’ltalia, he said “Italy must resist until the moment England realises that her debt to America is growing ever larger, that her world markets are being destroyed and the risk of Communism becomes overwhelming. If peace is not made rapidly we could then consider a compromise peace with Britain and America, but never with Russia. The Axis has no choice but to resist as long as materially possible. The Allies’ geographical position protects then* from direct attack, but the same applies to the Axis. “An Axis capitulation would mean heavy territorial losses and the. impoverishment of their people, therefore the only way is to continue the resistance, even if it appears completely hopeless. This applies especially to resistance on the Axis borders, which in no event should be crossed. “The former British Ambassador to Tokio, Sir Robert Clive, recently declared that the Allies did not expect Japan to collapse, therefore they expected a negotiated peace. The Axis is determined to resist until a similar statement applies to them. The Soviet is the real danger to both belligerents, and for this reason the Allies should realise the futility of continuing the lighting.”