SURRENDER TERMS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 204, 30 August 1943, Page 5

SURRENDER TERMS

REPORTED NEGOTIATIONS BY ITALIANS Recd. 6 p.m. London, Aug. 27. Persistent reports from neutral i countries suggest that secret negotiations for the elimination of Italy from the war are going on, says the Daily [Express. These reports state that :British and Ita’ian representatives are j contacting and that actual terms are bein-z discussed. j Government spokesmen in London i maintain complete silence on these rei ports. It is known beyond doubt that I Badoglio’s Government wants to get I Italy out of the war at the earliest I possible moment. Badoglio at present Lias no prospect of accepting the Allies’ I unconditional surrender terms, especi- ■ ally without knowing what the subse- | quent armistice terms will be. The Allied representatives may help Bado- • glio to make up his mind and ease Ihis home situation a little by giving jhim some indication of post-surrender t erms. g Informed diplomats in Londm b?- | Here there will be vitally important (developments with‘ltaly very soon. ! Badoglio is now supported only by (the army, and he faces a grave crisis unkss he acts immediately, says the New York Times Berne correspondent quoting a neutral diplomat who has returned from Rome. The diplomat hinted that Italy was on the eve of a popular rising that may also b? directed against the King. He pointed out that King Victor and ’even th* 4 House of Savoy was threatened if the left wing coalition decided to act.

The opposition is now extending to the right to include the ultra-conser-ivative Catholic Party, which supports I the Communist demands for peace and social reforms. The Italians openly blame Marshal Badoglio for the destruction of national wealth through

bombing. Furthermore, sympathy for Germany, is at an all-time low level. Rome'radio announced that a bomb almost entirely destroyed the archaclogical museum within Pompeii and most of the exhibits were buried under debris. A big bomb fell outside the Temple of Jupiter, but the damage was negligible. Another bomb demolished the arch and the portico in front of the buildings surrounding the Temple of Othello.