The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-01
The WarTOday
By DEWITT MACKENZIE

limitations from high sources
that Italy is headed for participa-
ton in the European war-spoken
with great firmness, though pur-
posely vague as to why, when,
where and with whom-have been
coming out of Rome with the fire.
quency of peas popping off a hot
skillet.
These statements, coupled with
even more. pointed remarks in the
press, bear all the ear-marks of
propaganda directed to a specific
end.
l have said before that the indi-
cations were II Duce would remain
out of the war as long as he could,
and then adopt a course which
would best serve Italy's interests.
There seems to me to be no reas-
on for changing this estimate of
the line the Italian leader will pur.
sue. However, it does strike me
that he probably sees in the writ
ing On the wall that this war is
likely to be tricky in fast changes
from now N. He knows that he
may have to make a quick decision
and he is preparing his people
for any e~ventuality.
On three successive days last
week the possibility of Italy's en-
trance into the war was discussed
in the chamber of faces and
guilds by Mussolini's trusted lieu
tenants. And in each instance the
Fascist chieftain was present to
hear the hints at his country's in
Movement in the conflict.
Much of the recent Italian prop
uganda has had a pro-Nazi and
anti-alley tinge, and relations be-
tween Italy and the Allied brother
hood have been rather strained.
This has given the impression-and
probably was intended to-that
Mussolini a preparing to Join
Herr Hitler against England and
France. Even in the chamber of
tasces and guilds, in II Duce's pres
ence, Francesca Giunta remarked:
las for England. whose power is
beginning to be placed in doubt,
her traditional friendship for us is
nothing but a commonplace, refuted
by history and by fact"
The situation got so peppery re-
Gently that British minister of eco
nomic warfare Cross in a speech
warned Italy to behave like a neu-
trail IT she wanted to be treated as
one. To this Virginia Gayda, au-
thoritative Fascist writer, replied
that Italy has nothing to learn
from any one about it's rules of con-
duct and would not accept a warn
ing from anyone"
Now it is indeed possible that all
this means Mussolini is leaning TO-
wards Germany. However, I still
think II Duce will be governed by
circumstances at the time he has
to choose his side. There have been
no indications that he has any deep
affection for either the Allies or
his partner in the axis. What 1 be-
lieve Mussolini is doing is this:
The Italian people, while loyal
to their Duce, have little liking for
Herr Hitler or Nazi principles.
When I was in Italy at the end of
1888 l found sentiment very strong
against the Nazi regime, and
against the Rome-Berlin axis, for
that matter.
1t seems quite logical to think
that Mussolini not only is prepar-
ing the public mind for war but is
building up a case so that if he
feels it necessary to join Hitler he
will have got Italy ready for it.
II Duce already knows that his
people would follow him into war
on the side of the Allies, and he
may want to strengthen the other
side-just in case.
Yesterday Mussolini appointed
one of his closest advisers, Dino
Alieri, ambassador to Berlin. Many
thought they saw. significance in
the fact that Alferi is decidedly
pro-German. Confidently in Ber-
lin Robert Ley, leader of the Nazi
labo: front, represented England