The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-01-09

intended TO be subtle Its account
is that he meant neither more nor
less than he specifically said in his
holiday greeting TO his majesty.
And maybe it's true that the in
nuendo that lurked in the wording
of his dispatch was unintentional.
Nevertheless, taking it in connec-
ton with things he's said preW-
ously and with his policy generally.
the innuendo certainly lurked there.
even if the communications author
worked it in only accidentally.
Prime Minister Churchill de-
clared out and out that zone man
and one alone" was responsible for
Italy's participation in today's war
and appealed TO the Italian people
TO overthrow him. Unmistakably
he referred TO Mussolini and. be-
yond a doubt, expected to be so
understood.
Prior TO the Churchill broadcast
President Roosevelt already had
described Italy as having stabbed
France in the back" 1t appears
now that he felt that the stabbing
had been done by Benito rather
than by the Italian people, for, so
far as the people are concerned, he
plainly wished them well. in his
message TO King Victor. That is,
he expressed the hope that during
the year to come the Italian peo-
pie may be enabled to enjoy the
blessing Of a righteous peace"
A Distinction
Nobody can guess otherwise than
that he's anti" the Axis Dictator
ships. But, like Winston Churchill,
he appears TO distinguish between
Italy's dictator and the rest of the
Italians. Possibly he and Winston
also distinguished between Dicta-
tor Hitler and other Germans, but
they haven't announced that yet.
Winstons announced it plainly.
however. relative to Italy. and F.
D. p. has announced it by very
obvious imrhcat0n
Reports from Germany don't in
licate any considerable German
dissatisfaction with Herr Hitler.
which is understandable; he's had
fairly good luck with his part Of
the war thus far.
Mussolini hasn't. though. Per-
haps he wasn't as popular in Italy
as Adolf was in ~ermany. to be-
gin with And, If he was. the run
Of backsets his forces have had
scored against them in Albania and
Africa have been enough to raise
hades with his standing among his
home folk Furthermore. the dope
is that most Italians didn't want to
get into the war j. the first place.
Adolf has another advantage
over Benito.
Adolf's the whole thing In Ger
many. He hasn't the ghost of a
theoretical superior Benito has.
He has a king. technically at the
head of the Italian government.
Benito horned into the boss-ship at
an opportune moment and Victor
Emmanuels had to submit to him
up 10 date. It doesn't stand to
reason. however. that he's liked 1t,
and he's still the king-on paper.
II he's human. observers reason,
he'll be rejoiced at a chance, If he
thinks he sees one, to reassert
himselt-which he can't do without
upsetting Benito.
Here. and presumably In London.
it's surmised that Emmanuel does
believe the time is ripe for him to
make a stab at rehabilitating him.
self.
II Benito Goes
Winston Churchills broadcast.
being anti-Mussolini but not anti
his majesty. was right down Vic
tors alley. His Job will be again
the main thing in Italy If Benito's
eliminated. Then the king sent
mighty nice holiday message TO F.
D. K. Considering that F d. r.
is anti-Axis, including Benito. why
did his majesty do this? The an
swer, according TO the best guesses,
is that he was after an equally
nice response, boosting him and,
by inference, making small pota-
toes out Of Benito, by ignoring him.
Well. he got his nice re oinder-
better, in fact. than he's likely to
have expected.
So II Duce Mussollni's placed In
the position Of having a king over
head. who naturally wants him
abolished and underneath. a pop
thnr