NEWS OF THE WEEK
THE new 'Italian Cabinet formed by Marshal Badoglio made an historic decision at its first meeting, when it resolved to dissolve the Fascist Party and to repeal the law of 1928, which conferred almost unlimited powers on the Fascist Grand Council. Thus the formidable organisation which came into being 21 years ago, and has profoundly influenced the politics of Italy and the world, is swept away, and Italy is left with a government which is primarily a military one, though otherwise it is indeterminate in character. Mr. Churchill and President Roosevelt have shown how these developments do and do not affect the United Nations. Political comment in Germany on Mr. Churchill's speech has made much of his so-called " threat " to Italy. If it is a threat to say that until Italy breaks with Germany and surrenders the war will be relent- lessly pursued the description is doubtless just. We are at war with Italy. The war is in full progress, and is going well for our arms, and no event will have occurred to call for the least desistance from our military effort until Italy complies in full with our con- ditions. To a world expectant of something new in the situation it might seem that there is a pause till the Italian Government dec:ares itself. But for us there can be no pause. We continue. We obviously must go on pouring blow upon blow until Badoglio shows his hand, and only then shall we desist if his action is such as to give all that we require, and put us in a favourable position tis-a-vis Germany. Except for the decision to abolish Fascism there has been nothing yet in the actions of Badoglio's government to indicate that it is not an enemy government, or to afford any reason why it should not be so treated. That is still, at the moment, the governing factor in the situation. The Battle of Italy goes on. How could it be otherwise?
