The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-11-20
Was i{lSS:llslly DIG
Second Front in Africa
Points North 10 Italy
Underground Anti-Fascists in Italy Want Strong
.N Brand Of Democracy for Aiding the
Allies; Seek U. S. Pledge.
T By BAUKHAGE
Nesus analyst and Commentator.

they have known no other party and
no other government through their
mature years. They are members
of the armed forces because they
are loyal to Italy.
According to the report which
I mention, made by supposedly
authentic and authorized repre-
sentatives of the anti-Fascists,
the underground movement in
Italy is powerful and effective;
it has accomplished a weaken
ing of civilian and military mo-
rale; publishes large and ef-
ficient anti-Fascist press; has
organized political meetings
and combat groups in nearly
every Italian town; has brought
about unity for the first time in
Italian history between the
working class and the intel
lectuals. It has caused general
inefficiency in the army, caused
sabotage in the campaigns Of
Greece, Albania and Libya and
effectively sabotaged war indus
tries.
The members Of these groups, the
young men who grew up under
Fascism, are not revolving to bring
about a status quo ante-they are
revolving against the status quo for
definite aims. They want new
democratic order.
Italian Anti-F ascist Demands
The members of the Italian un-
derground are thoroughly deter
mined to overthrow Fascism wher-
ever it exists. But they demand a
concrete, complete, sincere state
ment of the program Of the anti
Fascist forces before they will join
them, since they risk everything
in revolt and think they might SIM
ply gain new chains for old if they
faced a typical political peace.
They want, specifically, clear
cut statement of the peace aims Of
the United Nations. They want
these aims stated without equivoca-
ton or couched in the fine generali-
ties Of the Atlantic Charter. And
they want to be sure that they have
the guarantee Of the United States
as the administrator of those terms
with freedom to build the kind Of
an. Italy they want.
There is something of a parallel
between these italian demands and
the revelations, or what the con-
sentative diplomats would call the
indiscretions, of Wendell Willkie
when he called for assurances OF
the non-imperialistic designs of the
United Nations.
Willlxie, as is his wont, used a
blunderbus instead Of scalpel to
obtain his end, but he did clear up
the atmosphere on the subject Of
what Russia and China thought
about the need Of extending the
scope of the Atlantic Charter. The
realistic Jan SHUTS, prime minister
Of South Africa, echoed this senti-
ment few days after Willkie's re-
port to the nation. Others are re-
peating the demand for full state
ment Of peace aims.
Strong Brand of Democracy II
Another point upon which some Of
our allies, and particularly our po-
tential allies in Italy, want recog-
nized by us and emphasized is the
belief, many times stated but very
seldom elaborated, namely, that we
don't expect to 60 back to things
as they were.
They expect democracy, but
they make it plain they expect
Il to be economic as well as Z
political, and they want . brand
that may prove stronger mcdi-
cine than everyone might care
to take. The groups in Italy,
like those In other countries,
have forged their political
philosophers in the FIRE Of perse-
cution.
The revolt against the physical
brutalities of totalitarianism is likely
to carry them far in the opposite
direction. They demand an ideal Of
democracy hard to attain.
II becomes, therefore, vital task
Of the American statesman, in as
Stunning the necessary leadership Of
the United Nations as their supreme
physical effort approaches, to for
mulate a postwar world peace
ideal. If, as seems possible, the
second front will touch Italy, home
Of Fascism, before it reaches the
Nazi borders, the attitude Of Italy's
anti-F ascists must be clearly under
stood and taken into account.