Evening star., 1943-06-30
Eden Calls on Duce
10 Surrender for
Humanity's Sake
Would Not Hesitate to
Bomb Rome if Helpful
In War, He Repeats
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, June 30.-Foreign
Secretary Anthony Eden called
on Mussolini today Ito accept the
unconditional surrender offered
to him." and said Britain has not
and does not intend to approach
Italy regarding the question of
bombing Rome.
Addressing Commons, Mr. Eden
declared, II think it would be in
the interests Of humanity if Signor
MuSSolini were to realize that the
best thing he can do for his coun-
try is to accept the unconditional
surrender terms offered to him"
Leaflets urging surrender have
been dropped on Italian cities by
Allied planes in recent raids, and
unconditional surrender was set at
the Casablanca conference as the
peace terms for the Axis.
Might Bomb Rome.
Mr. Eden told the cheering House
that I'VE would not hesitate to bomb
Rome to the best of our ability and
as heavily as possible If the course
of the war should render such an
action convenient and helpful"
Opening a civil defense debate.
Ellen Wilkinson, parliamentary un-
dersecretary of the Home Office,
announced a sharp reduction in
BritainS AFRAID defense forces in
the face Of threats by the Germans
of reprisals.
The Germans must hit back at
us or else confess to the world that
the bomber command can make a
rubble of their vital industries while
they are helpless to do more than
defend themselves" she declared
adding that while NaZi threats of
reprisals are for home consumption.
Hitler can still stage very nasty
raid # he wishes to do so. The price
will be high"
Balancing this threat against the
manpoWer needs for an Allied often
siVe. she reported that the civil de-
tense establishment had been cut
one-third in the last u months,
and further cut of l2l, per cent
is underway, but not in especially
Vulnerable areas. Britain at present
has 100000 fire guards and 10000
instructors, she said.
Warning System Improved.
The air raid warning system is
vastly improved and new and more
powerful fire fighting equipment is
being provided
Capt. Harold H. Balfour, under
secretary of state for air. earlier re-
ported that the RAF had tripled its
rate OF bomb discharge on Germany
since this time in 1912, and a Ger
man radio broadcast reported by
the Ministry of Information said
LOO planes and 10000 guns have
been concentrated for the defense
Of the Ruhr.
When asked if the responsibility
should not be placed squarely on
Premier Mussolini for not pro-
claiming Rome an open city in case
any damage should be done to an
>-~'S ii4oA4bAiieI4tS, MI. EutI Ie-
piled:
Il think the responsibility is clear
enough. No one invited Signor
Mussoiini TO attack France and
no one invited him to send his
bombers to bomb London"
nding Claimed.
Mr.. Eden said news dispatches on
June % to the effect that If Rome
were dlveSted OF military detectives
1t might be considered an open town
resulted from "A misunderstanding
OF some remarks made off the record
at press conference" and that the
governments actual position was as
he stated it today.
The Associated Press version of
this conference was held in censor
ship about 20 minutes and passed
without change by the censor who
attended the conference.
In suggesting that the principle of
divesting towns of military objectives
be considered lin the interests of
humanity Mr.. Eden said. Il think
it would be in the interests OF hu-
manity If Signor Mussolini were to
realize that the best thing he can
do for his country is to accept the
unconditional surrender terms Of
fered him