The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1943-09-04
Rome AS An Open City
New York Times

The Badoglio Government announces that as early
as July 81 it appealed 10 the Holy See to act in
termediary in obtaining immunity for Rome from
further bombings. and that having received reply
It has determined to declare formally and pub
licly without further delay that Rome is open
city and that all necessary in conformity
with international law are being taken" The first
appeal mentioned in this announcement is a mystery.
The Vatican declares that it is surprised by it and
Allied quarters declare that they have heard
of it, Pending further Qualification it be assumed
therefore that Badoglio is merely trying to shift
responsibility for the second bombing of Rome re-
Gently. He obviously recognizes that mere Axis pro-
paganda is unable to stop the raids, and that their
continuation is likely to overthrow his regime the
first raid Rome helped to overthrow Mussoni The
response of the Rome popuace and that of other
bombed italian cities clearly demonstrates that the
raids are most effective means of stirring italian
peace demands to the point where they may compel
government action.
But quite apart from Badogios effort at political
trickery there stand his public declaration that Rome
is an open city and his request to the Allies to
announce the conditions under which they Will
recognize it as such and spare it from further harm.
There is no reason why the Allies should not do So
1t is within the authority of General Eisenhower as
the Commander in Chief of military operations, to
notify Badoglio just what the price of Romes safety
is Such notification could specify the precise steps
that must be taken by the italian Government to
remove Rome its factories and its railway systems
entirely from the
The Axis itself has never paid any attention to
declarations of the kind Badogho has made. Manila,
Belgrade and Brussels bombed after they had
been declared open cities and stripped of all military
and governmental agencies in preparation for sur
render Rome, the other hand, is still the seat of
both the italian King and the Badoglio government 1t
it still the of both Italian and German military
1t is still part of the military work
shop of Italy. AS long it is all that, it is one of
the most important military targets and it would be
expensive for the Allies to neglect it.
Beyond that, however. the Hague Convention of
1907 to which Badoglo appeals, scarcely envisaged
the problems raised by the modern air 1t forbids
attacks cities villages houses and buildings that
are not defended, or in other words are ready to
surrender. That the condition under which the
Germans spared Paris But is Rome ready to sur
render? And city situated in the midst OF de-
Tended territory far behind the actual battle line as
Rome is today really become open and undefended
city when stripped of governmental and military
installations? Obviously, city can be defended not
only within its borders but also in the open
field. And that is what Badoglio is doing by con-
tinuing the war The most effective way of saving
Rome listen the voice of the italian people and
sue for peace