The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1944-03-30

Another point Churchill made
should be noted for later comment:
Should we succeed in the present
battle and enter Rome-as | trust
and believe we shall-We shall be
free to review the whole Italian po-
litical position and we shall do SO
with many advantages which we do
not possess at the present time"
One more Churchill quote before
try to present the American view
point:
I should be sorry, however, to
see an unsettling change made at
time when the battle is at its eli
max, swaying to and fro. When you
have to hold hot coffee pot, It is
better not to break of the handle
until you are sure that you can get
another equally convenient and serv-
iceable, or at least that you will find
Z dishcloth handy
So much for the shadowy outlines
of the defense.
Let me give you now, from my
notebook, in the order in which |
took il down, the story as told to
me by one who ought to know
AT the Bari conference, there
were number Of parties which
seemed to agree, but they failed to
offer a concrete program or one
that there was any firm guarantee
would receive unified support. In
war, we cannot guess, we must
know. There is no definitely estab-
lished leadership among the anti
Fascists.
We know there is no future for
any leadership under the king and
Badoglio. But we must operate in
the present, not the future. AT pres
ent, there is but one unified group,
small or large, loved or hated as it
may be, and that is the government
which surrendered to the Allies, un-
der King Victor Emmanuel.
Must Be Realists
I'VE have to be realists now.
and what is more, military realists.
AS Churchill said, what the Allies
need are Italians ready and able to
fight Germans Such a group ex-
lists. Italians are fighting side by
side with Americans and British.
Although the Italian feet has not
been called to action, it surrendered
without resistance. The Italian off,
GERS on duty are still loyal to the
symbol (the king) to which they
made their oath We are perfectly
willing, we are anxious, that they
choose new democratic symbol.
But until they do get a new symbol
to which the majority OF Italians can
adhere, we are not going to throw
away the DID,
(Churchill's coffee pot.)
So much for what seems to be
the Allies viewpoint with my added
unofficial, but none-the-less | be-
lieve, authentic, Interpretation. But
there is something more that no off,
cial would dare whisper. 1t is the
problem which the Allies know they
are going to face in every re-occu-
pied country. Italy is a sample. 1t
s something unpleasant but some
hing we must face.
! understand that the Italian peo-
ole in the liberated regions have not
'een inimical to the Americans. But
hey are resentful. They are hun
Try. They cannot understand why
hese strong young soldiers, who
lave freed them, do not feed them.
The trucks 60 by loaded with NUM-
ions and supplies. Some food has
'een distributed. Not enough. To
eed all the people would mean halt
ng military operations while the
Germans made hay in the sunshine
f our charity.
The present Italian government
as still some discipline over the
eople; it is brutal, perhaps, but eff
ective. A new government which
eally expressed the peoples will
oday would have to demand food,
sould increase the pressure on the
lilies for supplies that they cannot
pare while they are fighting for
1eir lives. That is another real
'tic, military reason for the policy
t the Allies.
And, unfortunately, that is some
hing that the Allies can expect to
ace as more and more European
,rritory is liberated. The liberated
eople cannot be blamed II resent
lent that they do not receive more,
ipes out the gratitude for the modi-
Am that military men can spare.
rmies cannot be idealistic.
And armies or governments al
ar which support them, cannot
orry about ideologies. It Is too
I'D. But It Is Likewise only too true.