Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-08-20
4 Nations CHALLENGE
Italian Denial Of War
Against Il Countries


PARIS, Aug. 20.-Poland urged
Peace Conference committee
today to reject as completely
unfounded" an Italian declara-
ton that Italy had not been at
war with all the 81 conference
, nations, notably Poland, Bel
GUM, the Netherlands and
Czechoslovakia.
Poland was at war with italy
said Polish delegate. Polish
: soldiers fought in North Africa and
Italy. Polish soldiers were killed by
Italian bullets. Was this a state of
war or a state of peace?"
Belgium, Yugoslavia and the
Netherlands likewise challenged the
Italian claim, which was presented
in proposed amendment to the
) preamble of the Italian treaty taken
up by the Italian political and ter
rltorlal committee. Italy suggested
that statement in the preamble
that Italy was at war with ALL
! Allied powers be altered to read
some OF the conference nations.
Amendment Suggested.
The memorandum suggested also
that a sentence saying ITALY, under
the Fascist regime, became a party
to the tripartlte pact be amended
to read: Italy was led by the
Fascist regime to become a party to
! the tripartite pact"
The memorandum criticized the
omission of any reference to what
1t called the active role played by
the Italian people" in overthrowing
. Mussolni's regime
1t urged the deletion of the phrase
surrendered unconditionally" In
the preamble's reference to the
eapitulation of July 25, 1943. and
called for reference to "Italy's ma
terial share in the war against Ger
many which lasted for Is months"
No hostilities actually occurred
between Italy and Poland. Belgium.
the Netherlands and Czechoslo-
vakia. the Italian note said. and
the nationals of those states were
never considered in Italy to be
enemy aliens
A Netherlands delegate COM
mented that the Netherlands had
declared war on Italy through a
note delivered by the Swedish Min
lister in Rome. but that Italy had
not accepted the note, holding that
the Netherlands no longer ex-
listed"
A Yugoslav delegate said "the
spirit of the Italian amendment in
general is to eliminate italian re-
sponsibility in the war from con-
nection with the present regime"
This, he said. is altogether in
acceptable He said Italy was "a
major asset for Germany in the
war" and that the preamble should
be strengthened rather than modi-
fed
The committee had debated over
whether it should proceed with dis
cussion of the Italian treaty or ad-
journ pending submission of sug-
gested amendments to the draft.
Paul-Henri Spaak of Belgium said
Belgium cannot accept the Italian
amendment" He observed that there
was no formal exchange of declara-
tons. but that the Italian Navy sank
Belgian ships and Belgian troops
fought against Italian troops
Aggressive War" Charged.
Czechoslovakia also termed the
Italian claims unfounded. asserting
she considered herself at war with
Italy from December IT, l94l.
ITALY waged an aggressive war
against all democratic nations" the
delegate said.
Ethiopia also attacked the note,
saying its intention was to show
that Italy was drawn into the war
against the wishes of the Italian
people" The delegate added But
the whole world remembers the en-
thusiasm of the Italian people when
Mussolini announced the war
against Ethiopia
White Russia opposed acceptance
of the proposed changes with the
statement that "the amendments
suggested by the Italian delegation
are only an expression of the theor-
les already stated by CPremier De
Casper. He said Russian Foreign
Minister Molotoy had already EFF
fectively" answered the italian
leader.
With no other COMMITTEES or plen-
sry sessions scheduled, the Italian
committee adjourned until pm. to
discuss the Second nar1orapb IF the