Evening star., 1940-12-24
An Appeal to Italy

ternational annals, Prime Minister
Churchill yesterday appealed by radio
to the Italian nation to rid itself of
Benito Mussolini, "once again to take
hand in shaping it's own fortunes" d"
and abandon war forced upon it
''by one man and one man alone"
Though his remarks are couched in
terms of the ancient British friend
ship for the Italian people, Mr..
Churchill tells them bluntly that
British armies "are now tearing and
will tear your African empire to
shreds and tatters," if the fight goes
on. He urges Italians, before it is
too late, to take steps to avert that
fate.
The Prime Minister thus invites
the Italian people to overthrow the
Fascist dictatorship and renew ami
cable relations with the British EN-
pire. To what extent this uncon-
ventional overture was permitted to
reach and will affect those for whom
it is intended cannot Immediately be
known. But the appeal loses none of
it's force on that account. 1t is a
statesmanlike stroke, marked by the
fortnight daring typical of Britain's
war leader.
The broadcast is directed to a
country which, MIR. Churchill OBJ
viously thinks, can no longer expect
victory in a conflict into which it was
plunged against its own wishes,
against those of its royal family and
all the authority of the Vatican and
Roman Catholic Church" Reminding
Italians that their army has fought
bravely on many occasions, the Prime
Minister asserts that it's recent de-
feats were due to the fact that sit
evidently has no heart for the job"
Having epitomized Britain's SYM
pathy with Italy's historic struggle
for independence, the Prime Minis
ter's whole plea is aimed at proving
to Italians that there is neither
rhyme nor reason in their making
war on a Britain that was tradi-
tionally friendly to their earliest ma
tional aspirations. He defended Brit
aims sanctions action in the Ethi-
opian conflict as having been in
spired by her obligations under the
League Covenant, by which Italy
herself was bound
The Prime Minister recalled his
exchange of messages with Premier
Mussolini last May as indisputable
evidence of British desires for peace
between the two countries. Britain
was content with Italian neutral
ity" and "did not act through weak
ness" Then the Prime Minister
asked Italians to consider what
their position is today" He did not
diagnose the situation, apparently
assuming that conditions are suffi-
GENTLY dawning upon the Italians
themselves But he did stress the
choice that confronts them-of
standing up to the battery of the
whole British Empire and the Wig
orous counterattack of the Greek
nation, or calling in Attila over Bren-
ner Pass, with his hordes of ravenous
soldiery and his gangs of Gestapo
police to occupy, hold down and pro-
tect the Italian people, for whom he
and his Nazi followers cherish the
most bitter and outspoken contempt
on record between races"
Mr.. Churchill clearly implies that
Italy will now consult her best in
terests by deserting the axis partner
and seeking an honorable peace with
Britain. He declares that "the whole
English-speaking world is now
aroused and on the march," He
states that the autocratic action of
Mussolini has ranged the Italian
people in deadly struggle against the
British Empire and deprived italy of
the sympathy and intimacy of the
United States of America" Mr..
Churchill's transparent hope is that
Italians will realize the folly of pur-
suing the reckless course into which
they we're inveigled and will ponder
we'll before they permit their country
to be hurled over "the horrid verge
.,,;S,