The Ypsilanti daily press., 1943-06-26
Observations
Italian Peace
Feelers Seem to
be Sincere
BY Charles p. Stewart

Hints at Nazi desire TO discuss
some sort OF a temporary peace
with the United Nations are not
seriously regarded in Washington,
or. It is safe to say, in London,
either Reports of italian feelers
in a similar direction are not dis
missed quite so lightly.
Due weight should be given to
the distinction between references
to the Germans as Nazis and TO
their partners as Italians rather
than as Fascists.
Nazism is believed TO be still
pretty solid among the people of
the Reich, but Fascism, from all ac-
counts has pretty well evaporated
out Of the adjoining countrys at
mosphere.
However, Il is generally accepted
that Herr Hitler now recognizes
. that he has far larger contract on
his hands than he did when he
took the warpath, and that It is ma
tural in him to be exceedingly
wishful for a few years breathing
spell II he can make reasonably
satisfactory terms. from his own
and Germany's standpoint.
A compromise. of course, IS what
he is angling for-not "uncondi-
tional surrender. II he could get
one, while holding onto a percent
age OF the gains he has made hith-
erto, he would, to be sure have
scored a partial victory. and could
afford TO let further plunderinss
wait until later
Well. he obviously cannot get any
sort of a compromise from the
Yankees or the British. either sep
arately or jointly
Apparently he thought he might
conclude a bargain with Russia.
though. for rumor ha sit that he
concentrated originally upon the
Soviets. but only 10 be turned down
as uncermoniously by Comrade
Josef Stain as by President Roose-
welt and British Prime Minister
Winston Churchill
II is true that unconfrmed whis-
perings are heard 10 the effect that
Adolf has lost most of his authori-
~ with his own government, his
military chiettains having virtually
deposed him and taken direct
charge Of operations. with him only
as mammal Fuehrer Still. even
so, there are no signs that this
militarists group is yet inclined TO
acquiesce in anything stronger.than
negotiated peace'-a good deal
short OF unconditional surrender."
Italy. unquestionably, is quite
different
There is plenty OF evidence that
Fascism there began petering out
from the very day that Duce Mus
solini lined the peninsula up with
Fuehrer Hitler. The ex.Fascists
have been growing clammier and ,
clammier toward the Nazis ever
since then, until today they clearly
are outright hostile toward the lat
ter Maybe II would have been
otherwise. had the Axis continued
70 score a lot OF early victories, but
at present the Italians clearly rate
as around 95.and-a-fraction per cent
pro-Ally.
II is unmistakable that Benlto Is
blamed for his policy BY the fox
who hate Adolf. he probably is
hated worse than Benito is hated
by those who have HIM but those
who DESPISE Benito despise him
more heartily than Adolf is des-
pissed by HIS contingent
Nevertheless there is middlinE
good testimony 10 the effect that
Crown Prince Cmberto OF Italy. ac-
companied by several OF his most
influential Roman associates, ar
rived in Anglers the other day,
Offering Italian peace terms 10 the
Allied command there
II is not fully verified, but II
sounds convincing.
About the same time. Benito can
ed his cabinet into conference 70
discuss the current perils OF his
regime In connection with the
other angle that also is suggestive.
All this is largely speculation.
Yet. We know this:
Adolf is on the anxious seat, or
he would not be making oyertures
10 Russia.
Bento must be plenty uneasy.
with the Italian crown prince try.
ing TO subvert him.
Italy's secession from the Axis
might not be such military Jolt
TO Germany. but it is safe betting
that it would be moral one
Japan does not signify. This
cannot be too often emphasized.
The United States must lick the