The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1944-03-30
Anti Fdsdsts in Italy
Lack Uniform Program
Immediate Circumstances Necesstate Allied
Cooperation With King and Badogio as
Leaders of Only Unified Group.
By BAUKHAGE
Ne,os analyst and Commentator.
WNU Service, Union Trust Building
Washington. D. C..

WNU Service, Union Trust Building
Washington. D. C.
How can the Allied governments
the Allied armies, sworn to defent
the cause Of democracy, continue Il
deal with Italy's Fascist king ane
Marshal Badoglio and refuse to rec
ognize the anti-Fascist conference O
political parties recently organized
al meeting held in Bari, Italy?
The so-called "junta OF the Com
mittees Of Liberation" named fol
lowing the Bari conference, tele.
graphed to members of the British
house Of commons q message which
contained this passage:
Here Fascism, at first confused
and fearful, has taken courage. It
has assumed mask and has rallied
around the crown. Affecting q
friendship which is too recent to be
sincere, it has attempted to distort
the judgment Of your political and
military officials. Once more op-
pressing our people as it has al
ways done, 1t is putting all manner
OF legal and illegal obstacles in.the
way OF any genuine popular initia-
tive which tries to render more eff
cient and serious the contribution OF
liberated Italy to the war against
the Germans"
Addressing the Bari conference,
Italian Sen. Benedetto Croce had
said.
1t is fact that the waning pres
tige OF the king and the lack OF
confidence in him prevent the king
himself from rallying an Italian
army; he himself, fearing the oppo-
sltion against his person, has pro-
hibited the formation OF an army OF
volunteers. Many young men who
came to me from German-occupied
territory full Of enthusiasm were
forced to disband, disappointment
in their hearts, because they did not
find anyone to rally them and give
them the opportunity to fight"
Those statements seem fortnight
and fair. After reading them, was
not surprised when a fairly impor-
tant but not fairly informed per
son said to me.
The Allies are lined up with the
Fascists in Italy. Is that what we
are fighting fort"
That seems to me d typical atti-
tude, and one that the average man
reflects when he considers the So
called IDEALS" the American gov
eminent has made, the arrangement
with Darlan in North Africa, for in
stance. Think OF the abuse heaped
upon the state department in that
case-the deluge Of fiery liberal
criticism at home and in England,
The wrath OF De Gaulle and the rest
u the French anti-Vichyites.
Bitter Reaction
And then, when on the tenth OF
asst month it was announced that
our famed AMG, the carefully
objective military govern
nent provided by the Allies, who
lad taken over the civilian admins
ration Of liberated Italy, had turned
'ver the government in these prov
noes from which the Germans had
'een driven, to the Badoglio govern
nent, what deluge Of bitter and
'ynlcal comment was hurled at the
Allied leaders.
Is there any explanation? Can
here be any excuse for the United
states government, loudly anti-Fas-
list and violently against all forms
I totalitarlan government, playing
'all with the little king and his satel-
ties who danced to the tune of Mus
olini?
Well, there is another side but be-
ause Of the delicacy of the situation.
cannot be set forth officially.
| am permitted to state it without
ttribution, quoting no source, but
ssuring you, that to the best OF my
noWledge and belief, it represents
ne reasons behind the policy Of the
lhed leaders.
First let me quote from the guard
d remarks of Winston Churchill be-
IRE the house Of commons in Feb
lary:
THE sanest and safest course for
5 to follow is to Judge all parties
nd factions dispassionately by the
,st of their readiness and ability to
ght the Germans and thus tighten
le burden Of Allied troops. This is |
ot a time for theological prefer &,
1ces for one side or The other, and
we, His Majesty's govern ,
TENT, have not INDUCED ourselves in {
lis way at all"
And he might have added, the
merican government, the Ameri- !
IN army, is equally uninterested IN :
eOlopies. I