The No. 1 target of the British-United Stated diplomatic attack is Italy. where U.S. pressure is being brought hand-in-hand with the blows deli ered to the Fascist war machine north Africa and- Albania by Greek and British forces, Quarters close to President Roosevelt hope that Italy may crack up completely in the near future and say that on the basis of confidential diplomatic reports German troops already are poised north and east of the Brenner Pass for an "occupation" of the Italian boot.
Second in importance to Italy is what is occurring in defeated France.
High Administration quarters fore. see an early showdown between Chancellor Adolf Hitler and the Vichy Government of Marshal Hour Philippe Petain—a showdown which might throw France back into the war against the Reich if Chancellor. Hitler's demands proved too stern.
Vichy's announcement that Marshal Petain and pro-German M. Pierre Laval are negotiating for formation of a new Cabinet may prove, however, to be a turning point in Germany's favour, Nevertheless, it is pointed out In high Washington circles that France, facing famine, needs help from the United Stata of the kind which Chancellor Hitler cannot give.
Washington is particularly cerned about the French pos: in West Africa, such as Dakar, whence German planes might easily hop off to attack South America, and is anxious that they bë kept out of Chaneellor"Hitler's hands, is not excluded because Germany would be quick to send troops sweeping down from the north for a complete occupation of the Italian boot, Some Washington quarters suggest that, in view of this situation, Britain's victories over Italy in North Africa and the Greek-British victories in Albania may be followed by a British invasion of the Italian peninsula itself in order to forestall a German occupation.
This would seem to be a stupendous undertaking—placing British troop:
the Brenner Pass, at Germany' back door—but the vast Empire reinforcements for the British Army reaching North Africa recently might make it possible, if Marshal Rodolfo Graziani's Fascist forces in North Africa were to be completely shattered by either force of arms or surrender, Germany, it is realized in Washington. could not be content with merely an occupation of Italy, but would be compelled to drive the British out of Albania and Greece, as well.
This fact. according to Washington observers, may explain some of the mystery of Germany's military movements in the Balkans With his troops in full control of Italy Chancellor Hitler would be expected to strike with lightning speed down to Sicily and try to cut the Mediterranean at its waist and slice the British Empire life-line—to accomplish what Premier Mussolini failed to do.
The United States is banking upon its all out aid to Britain to aggravate the Italian unrest and to encourage the Army, the people and King Emmanuel to throw out Premier Mussolini.
The U.S. Ambassador, Mr, Phillip has instructions to make it clear in Rome that the United States is determined to see the war through to a British victory, whatever the consequences, There may be implied promises of U.S. food for the Italian people through the British blockade if they will lay down their arms and resist any German occupation.
To Plague Hitler Hitler's Boasts Recalled These are troubles to plague Chancellor Hitler, and U.S. Dijlo: in liaison with Britain, is doing all it can to aggravate them.
Diplomatic advices indicate that he situation within Italy is far more acute than has been disclosed by Premier Mussolini's known measures o buck up moral among his people, including his recent "purge" of his High Command. The United States Ambassador, Mr. William Phillips. has been rushed back to his Rome post from Washington for the even-triality of an Italian collapse and is reported to have "information" for King Victor Emmanuel, perhaps more forceful than President Roosevelt's New Year's greeting to the monarch. expressing hope that the Italian people this year "may be enabled to enjoy the blessings of a righteous peace.
If Italy's prosecution of the war blows up, the Administration believes he initiative probably will come from he pro-monarchist Army aristocracy.
The word in Washington is "watch Badoglio"—Marshal Pietro Badoglio, former Italian Chief of Staff recently ousted by Premier Mussolini.
Washington hears that Premier Mussolini's prestige, amazingly high among his people in peace-time, has sunk to a "pitiful low" and that he guessed completely wrong when he entered the war at the time of The situation in Italy today recalls a boast which Chancellor Adolf Hitler is reported to have made in 1938 to Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg of Austria, now a prisoner of the Germans. that the time would come when he would stage a "second march on Rome" with Brown Shirts instead of Black Shir The question of Italy dovetails completely with the question—of France's future cou The State Department in Washington is pretty well convinced that Chancellor Hitler has made demands on the Vichy Government, involving the still formidable French Fleet, French naval bases and the possible movement of German troops across unoccupied France for an attack on Gibraltar.
Chancellor Hitler could. of course, take over unoccupied France
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