Evening star., 1943-12-15
Italian King Described
As Greatest Obstacle
To Rebirth Of Nation |
By the Associated Press.

~ the AcsoSidicu tIeSS.
NAPLES, Dec. IA Delayed) The
Italian Committee of National Lib
Grafton, representing the six major
non-Fascist political parties, issued
a statement today describing King
Victor Emanuel as zone of the grav-
est obstacles to the rebirth of the
nation"
At the same time, Bendetto Croce,
venerable Italian politician and
philosopher, declared unequivocally
that the Kings abdication is a pre-
requisite to reconstruction OF a
united Italy.
Croce's assertion was made in re-
ply to a recent barrage of editorials
in monarchist periodicals and PAM
phlets attacking him, Count Carlo
Sforza the pre-Fascist foreign min
lister, and other elements who have
been urging the Kings abdication.
Possibility of Trial Raised.
In another statement, published
In Naples only newspaper and
broadcast by the Naples radio, Croce
raised the possibility of a formal
trial of the King. adding that he
hoped legal proceedings would never
be brought against the sovereign
for, he said, the results could only
be complete condemnation of the
monarch.
The King should voluntarily alb
dicates he continued, not only for
his own sake but for the sake OF
the monarchy itself.
Croce's statement was the second
recent intimation that actual court
proceedings against Victor En-
manuel were within the range of
possibility. A Naples newspaper
editor recently wrote, "the Kings
crimes against the Italian people
are greater than those that have
caused others in Eureope to lose
their heads"
The CroSSfire or accusations and
ter-accuSationS brought the
political fever in Italy to its highest
pitch at any time since the cam
paign against the King began.
Need to Move Supplies Cited.
The committees lengthy state
ment-the strongest criticism vet
directed at the King-Was addressed
to the people of Italy and pointed
out three fundamental problems:
l. The urgent need for food and
transportation facilities to move
supplies from one part of Italy to
the other.
2. The necessity of reactivating
Italian industry in order to aid the |
war against Germany.
3, The Importance of reconstruct
ing the government.
However, along with these grave
difficulties" the statement said, |
there also are those resulting from
the refusal Of the head of the crown,
who participated in the tragic mill
tary and civil adventures of Fascism,
to abandon the throne and to con-
sent to the indicated solution in the |
form of a constitutional regency !
which would not prejudice either |
the hopes of the royal house nor the
rights of the Italian people, once
the territorial unity of the father
land is reconstructed"
Wounded Veterans Sign Manifesto.
The pronouncement added that as
long as the King persisted in this
obstinate refusal" to heed the wishes
of the people he would remain "one
OF 1taly'S gravest obstacles"
The committees manifesto was is
sued after seven-hour session and
was signed not only by representa-
tives of the six political parties but
by the National Association of
Wounded War Veterans. 1t thus
marshalled against the monarch the
strongest lineup of Italian groups
he has so far been confronted with.
The Kings opponents insist they
are demanding his abdication be-
cause he is equally responsible with
Benito Mussolini for the disaster of
FaScism. They also have asserted
that the nation will not rally in
dustrially or militarily behind the
Allies as long as he remains on
the throne.
Until recently the monarchists
have remained silent. With the for
nation not long ago of the mon
archical organization, The Blue
Party" they took the offensive and
have been filling newspapers with
articles and issuing pamphlets con-
demning Croce, Sforza and their
associates.
Allied officials have been at
tempting to maintain strict neu-
trality toward the dispute, They
have warned both sides. however, /
they cannot permit the political
campaign to reach a point where it
may8g cause violence or disorders
that will hinder the active prose-
cution of the war against the Ger
mans.