AFTER TEN YEARS

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 120, 17 November 1932, Page 4

AFTER TEN YEARS

RECORD OF FASCISM

GENESIS OF THE MOVEMENT

ANSWER TO BOLSHEVISM

Italy, at tho outset of the Great War had declared its intention of remaining neutral,- but after less than a year, when the Allied troops wore beaten back and the victorious Germans were invading- Belgium, France, and Kussia, they joined the Allies.- Italy's decision greatly desired and sought for was hailed with great joy by°the 41----lied Powers. The help brought "by ■ Italy to the cause consisted of about 8,000,000. soldiers, with many thousands of guns and a first-class fleet, all well disciplined, and anxious to begin operations, writes Giovanni Stella in an overseas paper. If the help of the soldiers and materials was a great benefit to a just cause, no less was the moral impetus o-iven by Italy in fighting its former allies Four years of strenuous war did not reduce Italy to extremities, although the blood of her solders reddened the alps and_ the rivers of Veneto. If 600,000 Italians lost their lives on the battlefield, and 2,000,000 were, wounded and maimed, it was only for a greater Italy and the triumph of justice. The Armistice having been declared on 11th November, 1918, there began in the famous Palace of Versailles'a conference for peace. If "Versailles'"meant disappointing conditions for Italy, as one of the Allies, it also meant the .beginning, however' obscure, ".of "her. great renaissance. Italy, after a very strenuous war, after all her sacrifices, both in persons and money, expected to be remunerated, and have her demands granted. On the contrary, owing to misunderstanding of politicians and border rivalries, such compensations did not eomo, and, while other nations did, not disarm, Italy did so, and-refrained at the Allies' requests from occupying Vienna; To this must .bo; added that .Bolshevism and confusionwas commencing to gain a hold in Italy, destroying instead of building. THEIR OPPORTUNITY. These conditions were immediately seizod upon by the Bolshevists, who began to preach about the futility of war, and the useless sacrifice made by the country, both in lives and money. The semi-Liberal Government of that time hardly took any notice of the strife that was going on in tho country, and was preoccupied with the welfare of their party instead of that of the nation. By their selfishness the politicians were beginning to dig their own graves.' Those wevo indeed very sad times for Italy. Strike followed strike, and many persons were asking themselves where it was all going to end. The agitators became bolder and bolder. They realised the weakness of the Government, until, finally, they demanded the control and the occupation of all factories and works, and the public service was entirely disorganised. The Government of that period did. nothing to control v the position, while even that great force, the bourgeoisie, unconscious of its power, did nothing to improve matters. At last an awakening came. Those who . fought in the war and gladly made sacrifices for their motherland, for which they were now scorned and despised, rebelled against this chaotic state of affairs. They could not reconcile themselves to the conditions, and began to wonder why their sacrifices did not produce- the dream o£ "benefits, to the .motherland.. So-little by little they gradually drew together, and when a leader came, art the person of Beiiito Mussolini, they formed under his guidance the Fascist group "of 1919. • ; This movement spread so quickly that iv a short time every Italian city had its Fascist group and the black flag, symbol of. sacrifice and power, together with the song "Giovinezza" ("Youth"); encouraged a movemont to end .the odious tyranny that existed. When news of, these manifestations wore known hundreds and hundreds of liew recruits came from every part of Italy to enlist. Meanwhile an intense struggle began between Fascism and Bolshevism. As if in the .war Italy had not lost enough of her sons, the Bolshevists, feariug the power of Fascism, commenced to ambush numerous Fascist squads and to slay their countrymen. Fascism, however, was not to be destroyed in this way, indeed, instead of diminishing, the number of adherents continually increased, and the party was perfected and organised in such a way that toward the end of 1919, at the General Elections, it was able to enter twenty-two Fascist members of Parliament. MARCH ON ROME. Everybody was looking1 to Signqr Mussolini, who, untiring and, a3 it seemed, inspired was his Fascists and- continually speaking of

his belief in a glorious future for Italy. Fascism, which had already many thousands of members, had captured in such a way tho favour of the middle class that in 1922 three strikes were prevented, while ' the last new victim of Bolshevism only attracted sympathy to the party. Thus came the ! 2ith October, 1922, when a general meeting was held in Naples, and that day Mussolini spoke at length to 150,000 Black Shirts gathered there. When he finished the cry of the crowd was: "Romo or death!" Tho Government,- which had been too spineless toward Bolshevik manifestations and had taken no steps to oppose tho Fascist movement which was forming, as it were, a State within the State, tried now to come to an agreement; but it was too late. The situation was ripe for Fascism. In fact, on the afternoon of 27th October an order from a special committee, whose soul was Bcnito Mussolini, gave the word to occupy all the railway centres and roads leading to Koine, to avoid pos- i sible concentration of troops on the part of the Government. At the same time Milan, Turin, and other Italian cities were occupied by Fascists, while the Black Shirts began their famous ''March on Kome." . ■ The Government, having decided to resist Fascism, declared martial law. It was a dark day for Italy. What would the army do? Would the troopa fire upon their brothers? Certainly, if tho King commanded it. But the King of Italy knew his people and the great number of followers that Fascism had, so he refused to sign the order. Fascism had won. Cabinet was dissolved, and Mussolini was appointed to form the new one. In the morning of 28th October Rome, the eternal, the chief glory of all Fascists, and iv whose namo 3000 Black Shirts have since given their lives, saw Benito Mussolini at the. head of 150,000 Black Shirts marching past tho King and Queen to pay their homage. Since then the Government haa been continually held by Benito Mussolini. MUSSOLINI, PRIME MINISTER. The appointment of Signor Mussolini to the Premiership was hailed with joy by the Italian people, but it was thought at that time that Fascism, after gaining supremacy in Italy, would have l.ent itself to the usual actions and movement of the former Governments. To _ this it must be' added that tho various dabblers in politics, having seen the impossibility of joining the Fascist movement, began by underhand means to attack the Italian Prime Minister. Nothing was left unattempted, but every attack was shattered by the personality of Benito Mussolini and the unity of the Fascist Party. ■ The National Italian Government answered the attacks in a dignified Fascist way. In comparing the-conditions of' Italy to-day with those of ten years ago it does not matter how bitter an enemy of Fascism one may be, one must admit that much'better conditiona have been introduced into Italy by Fascism. I am not in a position at present to state, nor is this the moment to investigate whether Fascism—a . movement exclusively Italian—could bo successfully adopted by oth,-* nations, and if tho same success as that obtained in Italy could be got elsewhere. In any case this Italy, formerly overlooked and unrecognised among the nations, to-day, owing to Fascism, has become one of the most important Powers of tho world. Reforms and laws, which under another Government would have taken years and. years to 'enforce, Have been drawn up, discussed, and enforced in a very short time, some in a few months.

Italy—Fascist Italy—is to-day at the head of nations as regards the protection of the workers' rights. In the "Charter of Labour," a document which has rightly been called historic, is stated the .absolute supremacy of the nation over the interest of the citizens, while at the same time it guarantees the right of Labour.; IMot only does this charter set out regulations about the "co-opor-ativo Stated/but it contains compulsory clauses in every collective agreement between employors and employees. There are also syndicates, to which are given the special duty of 'compiling .these documents and seeing that the rights of either class is not infringed, and in addition of providing for the sssistanco and education of the masses.