WATCH ON ROME

The rest of the world reacted variously last week to Italian developments.

Russia. An Izvestia editorial warned Russians: "By no means should illusions be cherished that with Mussolini's going Fascism automatically perished. The alliance of Italian Fascism with Hitlerite Germany proved fatal for Italy. But it is just this alliance which will for some time yet support the tottering edifice of Italian Fascism. This is so because German troops are on the territory of Italy. . . . Nothing resembling a democratic, anti-Fascist coup d'etat has taken place in Italy as yet."

Soviet newspapers reminded their readers and the world that Russia had contributed to Italy's collapse by smashing dozens of Italian divisions in Russia, while its current summer offensive had prevented Germany from sending reinforcements to Italy. The temper of Moscow comment made it clear that Russia wanted Soviet representatives included in any peace conference.

Moscow immediately capitalized on the Italian situation in its political warfare. Moscow radio beamed an appeal of the Free German committee to the German people to overthrow Hitler. "Mussolini is the first to go, but he will not be the last ally of Hitler's to desert the sinking ship. In Budapest . . . the same will soon happen. Mannerheim and Antonescu also. . . ."

China. A Chinese spokesman said: "When one leg of the tripod is broken, it will naturally have a demoralizing effect on the other two. . . . Tojo will follow the fate of Mussolini."

Germany. The Italian collapse caught Hitler's evil wizard Paul Joseph Goebbels unprepared. All last week he gave the German people only the barest factual details while he floundered from one explanation to another. Pessimism was rampant. Wrote the German-controlled Bruesseler Zeitung: "At present we rest our hopes exclusively on our own military strength, for there is nothing else to hope for."

The bewildered people of Germany knew what had happened; so did the five-million-odd foreign workers in the Reich. Stockholm reported that in Berlin 10,000 Italians went on strike, demanding to be sent back to Italy immediately, and that demonstrators sang the International, made bonfires of portraits of Hitler, Nazi Party membership cards and insignia. Leaflets were circulated: "Germans, what the Italians can do we can do. . . . Only the Nazis stand in the way of that peace for which we all long. Down with Hitler, Goebbels and Goering." In most cases the police avoided open conflict with the demonstrators.

Stockholm also reported that in bomb-shambled Hamburg demonstrators demanded an immediate end to the war and an active struggle against Hitler. Many local Gauleiter had fled; those who remained were unable to cope with the situation. Late in the week Gestapo Chief Heinrich Himmler arrived to supervise restoration of order in the least Nazi of German cities.

Japan. After hurried conferences with the German and Italian ambassadors, Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu told the Cabinet that Japan's war policy would remain unchanged, despite any "new developments" which might follow the resignation of Benito Mussolini.

The Jap-controlled Saigon radio got its foot in its mouth. Commentator Captain Kahn insisted that the resignation "of one man from the Italian Government makes no difference. The resignation of Neville Chamberlain as British Prime Minister did not alter the British will to fight."

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