Evening star., 1943-09-19


be called: MY Personal Drama.
1t is nothing compared with the
terrible tragedy which the Demo-
cratic (Badoglio) government in
f1icted on the italian nation Oh
July Is. The Incredible optimism
even of the Fascists did not con-
slider it possible that the govern
ment should harbor such castas-
trQphic plans toward the party, the
regime and nation itself.
Indicts Idlers.'
The measures, however, which
was aimed at destroying the work
of 20 years and at extinguishing 20
years of glory in order to eliminate
the recollection of the creation of
an empire and of a rank such as
the fatherland had never had be-
fore.
Today, in view of the ruins of the
war which is continuing, one should
like to search for the possibility to
find some form of compromise and
justification for him who will be
responsible for the continuing chain
of errors.
Those who today run down the
party are the same idlers who at
the beginning of our march tried
to sabotage social progress and to
minimize the national and i'm
perial success.
While we are accepting full re-
sponsibility let us examine the
others and begin with the re-
sponsibility of the King.
Holds King Responsible.
He feels himself detected but he
did not resign as majority of
Italians had expected. He must
be held directly responsible. It was
his dynasty which during all periods
Of titei iwaFs tliatf had been DECLARED
BY Him was the center of defeatism
and OF; anti-Gernan propaganda.
He. was careful and yet sometimes
careless. He adopted Vail the specu-
lations of the enemy.
The heir to the throne took over
command of the army in the south,
but never put in an appearance on
the battlefield 1-~s.- +.
I am convinced the House of
Savoy prepared and carried out the
coup d'etat together With Badoglio
as an accomplice and all of the
cowardly generals and in connection
with some treacherous members of
the Fascist party. There can be
no doubt that Immediately after my
arrest he (Badoglio) was authorized
to negotiate an armistice and that
the negotiations had been entered
upon even previous to my arrest
between the House Of Savoy and
Britain.
Therefore, he shamefully betrayed
Germany and even after having
signed the armistice he denied that
such negotiations were progressing
Calls Terms Hard.
Twenty years ago I prevented the
breakdown OF this dynasty, which
now has established a new govern
ment in accordance with an old
statute of 1848-at the point of the
bayonet and under a state of siege
AS regards the terms OF the
armistice. which should have been
generous, they were the hardest
imaginable. The King did not OBJ
ject to these terms nor did he object
to my being handed over to the
enemy. Anxious about his crown,
he brought chaos, shame and mis-
cry over Italy.
The misdeeds of the House OF
Savoy are known in all continents
from East Asia to America. Enc
mics even who have forced this
shameful capitulation on us do not
hide their contempt for us. Ever
Britain which no one. not even the
Fuehrer though of attacking, is at
war in accordance with Churchill's s
promise given to Poland. For these
reasons it may happen now that any
Italian, even in his private affairs
will arouse the suspicion of others.
Recalls Fight Together.
After having lost honor, we have
lost also all of those countries
which we secured during this war
possessions in the Adriatic, in the
1onian and Aegean seas, in south
France, and in the Balkans.
The army has been humbled and
left in the lurch and disbanded. II
was disarmed by its own ally. This
humiliation had to be borne by sol.
diers who bravely fought on many
battlef1elds on the side of Their
German allies. In the cemeterie.
OF our heroes, in the Soviet Unior
and on other battlefields where Ger.
mans and Italians are buried side by
side. this shame must be felt.
The Royal Italian Navy which
was created during those 20 year.
was handed over at Malta, the islanc
which was the cornerstone of the
British Empire in the Mediterranean
and constant menace to Italian
interests.
The air force only was able t.
preserve considerable parts of it
materiel but, practically speaking, i
is no longer of use.
| These are the responsibilities a
shown in the Fuehrer's last speech
They emphasize Badoglio's treason
who even after capitulation allowe,
large and small cities In central an,
southern Italy to be bombarded II
order to deceive the Germans.
1t was not Fascism which betraye,
the monarchy. 1t was the monarch
which betrayed Fascisn1. This trea
son, has resulted in no one in Ital
believing in the monarchy an
longer.
The unity Of the Italian r,eoY,lI