Evening star., 1943-11-15
Badog|io' S Promise
To Resign Followed by
Hints King Will Quit
BY the Associated Press.

ITALIAN HEADQUARTERS IN
ITALY, Nov. 15.-Premier Mar.
shall Pietro Badoglio's pledge tt
resign as head of the Italiar
government when Rome falls
was quickly followed today by
strong indications that Kins
Victor Emmanuel's abdication i.
only matter of time.
DR.. Leopoldo Piccardi, who quit
as minister of labor and commerce
on the heels of Badoglios statement
yesterday reflected the general atti-
tude that the end is near for the
monarch when he told friends he
could not afford to be associated
with the Premier's proposed tech
nical cabinet" and, by inference
with the King.
BY his statement that he would
quit when the Allies reach Rome
Badoglio altered previous declara-
tions that he would stay in Office
until the Germans are driven from
the country.
Badoglio's decision was direct
result of his refusal to take part in
any government which unseats the
King.
SwOre Loyalty at II.
when I was IT," the marshal said
at press conference, Il swore 10y
atty to the King and will keep faith
as long as l live"
In a statement, issued last night
he confirmed reports that Count
Carlo Sforza, pre-Fascist foreign
minister; Benedetto Croce, noted
italian philosopher, and other po-
litical leaders had refused to join
a government under king they
considered tainted by fascism.
Badoglio now has abandoned ef-
forts to form a representative gov
ernment. He announced Saturday
he would set up what was desig-
mated as a technical cabinet-a
mere government framework in
which minor functionaries would
carry on the necessary work until
the capital is freed.
The premier said Count Sforza
and others had asked not only that
the king abdicate but that Crown
Price Umberto renounce the success
sion and that the latter's son, the
six-year-old Prince of Naples, should
become king under a regency.
Badoglio said he was forced to
refuse these conditions.
No Alternative but to Quit.
His refusal and decision to resign
once Rome is reached, by political
paradox, removed the one strong
prop that has been keeping Victor
Emmanuel on the throne he has
occupied for 43 years.
When Badoglio resigns, the king,
under the constitution. must try to
form a new government. With all
political parties united on the
ground they would not join any gov
ernment under him, he presumably
would have no alternative but to
resign.
Badoglio said he had received a
message from the leaders of the six
italian political parties, each making
known that once the capital was
liberated they favored the estab-
lishment of a completely constitu-
tional government composed of
political personages, leaving me only
the military"
The Premier said he then pro-
posed the stop-gap government of
technical experts" in each ministry
to work with the Allied commission,
land when Rome was liberated 1
would present my resignation as
head of the government and retire. :"
Badoglio said the undersecretaries
for the technical government would
be announced in a few days.
Closing his announcement about
the technical government, Badoglio
said Il hope my government lasts
only a short time"
With the resignation of Piccardi,
the Premiers present cabinet is al
most non-existent. Piccardi was the
only civilian member. Military men
remain only in the air and marine
ministries,