The Armistice Terms
Owing to the long delay between the fall of Mussolini and the signing of an armistice Badoglio's Government has no longer the power to carry out all its terms ; for the Germans now control most of Italy outside the growing region we have conquered. By far the most important consequence is the surrender of the Italian fleet, which at the same time strengthens the Allied naval forces and releases powerful units for service elsewhere. The opening to the Allies of ports and airfields doubtless facilitated our occupation of Taranto and its neighbouring airfields. Most of the prisoners who were released were in the north and are in danger of being caught by the Germans. It is surprising that there was no mention in the terms of the handing over of Mussolini and other leading war-criminals. His rescue by German agents and escape to northern Italy are events not creditable to the Allies. That the possession of the person of the late Duce might be a considerable advantage to the enemy is a fact which ought to have been fore- seen by Allied diplomacy. Once again the Germans have been too quick for us, and appear to have seized him almost under our very noses. The German story is that he had been first imprisoned in Sardinia, then transferred to the south of Italy by Badoglio, and finally rescued by a party of S.S. men and conveyed to the north. Although Mussolini's prestige has now reached rock- bottom in Italy and the world, he may still be used as a dummy figurehead by the Germans. He has ceased to be a great danger, but there were good reasons for assuming that he had been com- pletely disposed of. He has not, and may still have some nuisance value to the enemy.
