Italian Fascist War Crimes in Ethiopia - Societa italiana di storia ...

Italian Fascist War Crimes in Ethiopia 85
The war crimes issue came further to the fore as evidence of Nazi atro c i t i e s
against the Jews filtered out of occupied Euro p e. On 17 December 1942, a decl
a ration was read out in the British House of Commons, stating that Britain, the
U SA, the USSR, and the nine émigré governments affirmed their “solemn re s o-
lution” that those responsible for crimes should “not escape re t r i b u t i o n . ” 7
This declaration applied only to crimes committed by the Germans in
Europe. The latter were outside Allied jurisdiction, but statements condemning
them were important in Allied war propaganda. Virtually nothing was said
about Fascist Italy, either about atrocities it was committing in Europe, or those
it had earlier carried out in Ethiopia.
Changing Allied Positions: Mussolini and Badoglio
Allied thinking on war crimes underwent an important shift, in the summer
of 1943. After the Anglo-American landings in Sicily on 10 July, it became
a p p a rent that Italy might soon fall. This led the Allies to reconsider their attitude
to Mussolini, and to the leaders who might succeed him. The American and
British leaders took the view that the ve t e ran Italian commander, Marshal Pietro
Badoglio, was a man with whom they should collabora t e. Though he had used
poison gas in Ethiopia, they did not consider him a war criminal, but as a forc e
for European stability. One of those supporting him was Carlton-Hayes, the
American Ambassador in Spain, who told his British counterpart, Sir Samuel
H o a re on 20 July, that he favo u red a Re g e n cy in Italy, with Badoglio as “the
s t rong man.” 8
Mussolini’s Fall and Badoglio’s Appointment
Speculations on Italy’s future were suddenly cut short when the fascist
Grand Council voted on 24 July for Mussolini’s dismissal. On the following day
King Vittorio Emanuele appointed Badoglio Prime Minister.
The dictator’s fall, and the new Premier’s appointment had dramatic consequences—which
we re to have a major bearing on the question of Italy’s wa r
crimes in Ethiopia. In the United States, Ro o s evelt at once took the lead. On the
f o l l owing day he proclaimed that the Duce was a war criminal. He telegraphed to
Prime Minister Winston Churchill that Mussolini, and his principal supporters,