Evening star., 1943-07-28

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sincere procla- David Lawrence.
nations of purpose is possessed by
the present leadership OF the Allies
to the same remarkable extent that
was manifested by President Wilson
in 1918.
Mr.. Roosevelt has planned along
with Mr.. Churchill to give express
sion at this time to the feeling of
the United Nations with reference
to the situation created by the en-
forced retirement of Mussolini The
Churchill speech is a bit confusing
In that it asks for unconditional
surrender and at the same time
recognizes the Importance of keep
ing intact, for the moment at least
the structure of constitutional
monarchy which has authority over
the military forces of Italy.
There would seem to be con-
siderable danger for any Italian
government which Immediately ac-
cepted unconditional surrender"
terms, for such government might
be faced with revolution and this
In turn would bring the very chaos
that Mr.. Churchill says he seeks to
avoid because it would mean en-
ploying large Allied forces for police
purposes.
Armistice Might Serve.
The present Italian government
or ministry is of no long range
importance. but it does WELD power
to keep the situa ton in Italy from
disintegration. Hence it would be
the better part of wisdom to require
an armistice and leave the terms
to be decided later. The vital neces-
sity OF the hour is to avoid making
any move that can stir up patri-
tic people to last ditch resistance
something that would delay our
time table and help Hitler i'm
measurably.
The craftsmanship that seeks to
reassure the Italian people that the
United Nations come to them to re-
store liberty and freedom so they
might choose their own form OF
free government is the statesman
ship which will carry conviction
and accelerate the currents of popu-
lar demand for immediate peace.
Maybe that is the kind of appeal
which President Roosevelt will make
In his broa dcast.
On the policy pursued in handling
the Italian people in the next few
DAYS will depend the lives of many
thousands of American soldiers
whose sacrifices in battling further
Tor possession of Italian territory
can be spared The Italians are
predlSposed to peace and the King
and his premier cannot pursue dila-
tory tactics or attempt to play the
United Nations against Berlin with
out encountering waves of popular
resentment.
The need for steady pressure bv
psychological means so as to as
sure the italian people of the bene-
fltS OF laying down their arms at
once is apparent. But there some
times is interiected in delicate mo-
ments like these chauvinistic view
point pressed by the military, which
imposes ignominious terms on
dying or weak ministry and fails to
see that such terms. if accepted,
may bring internal dissension and
revolution.
Dangers Recognized.
Inc realistic situation is fully un-
oerstood by our high officials here
who are disposed to recognize the
risks and the dangers of transition
and it is to be anticipated that Presi-
dent Roosevelt will tend to reflect
more conciliatorv note than has
been reflected by London thus far
Whichever method permits the
Allies to acquire air bases in Italv
and to cause the withdrawal of the
Italian divisions from the Balkan
countries is the method that will win
approval as the proper strategy for
the moment. 1t Is true that the
events in Rome are far from clear
and that the greatest caution is be-
Ing exercised to prevent the Allies
from being caught in a lengthy ma
heuver which would enable Hitler
to benefit.
The biggest victory thus far Is Of
course, the elimination of Mussolini
and Fascism. If this can be fol-
lowed up by allowing the Italian
people to give free expression to
their pent-up feelings against Fas-
clsm and for democracy, without at
the same time stirring up intense
nationalism as their homeland is
being invaded, the consequences can
be readily foreseen as the beginning
OF definite turn in all of Europe
toward the banners of freedom. But
unless there is an assurance of in