MUSSOLINI SPEAKS

Evening Star, Issue 20061, 29 December 1928, Page 2

MUSSOLINI SPEAKS

A NOTABLE AUTOBIOGRAPHY - But, after all, sirs, what butterflies are wo looking for under the arcli of Titus? Well, I declare here in front of this assembly, in front of all the Italian people, that I assume, I alone, the political, moral, historical responsibility about everything that has happened. If sentences, more or less maimed, are enough to hang a man, out with the noose! If Fascism has only been castor-«! or club, and not a proud passion of the best Italian youth, the blame is on me! . , If Fascism has been a criminal association, if all the violences have been the result of a determined historical, political, moral delinquency, the responsibility of this_ is on me, because I have created it with my propaganda from the time of our intervention in the war to this, moment. —Benito Mussolini, in ‘My Autobiography.’ Whatever views people may have of Fascist rule, they are interested in the man, Benito Mussolini. They have to admit that conditions in Italy arc in many respects better under his rule, that he has abolished many intolerable abuses of former State Government in Italy—the railways and municipal government are more efficient —and that corruption has vanished by the string action of Mussolini and his Fascist regime. This admission does not premit strong criticism of Fascist rule which runs counter to democracy as the rest of the world knows it, nor will it nutcii tho interest in Mussolini’s own story of his lift) which is published this v.ttk.

The book is translated by Mr 11. M. Child, who was American Ambassador to Italy from 1921-24, during the y<ars that Mussolini seized power in Italy. “It is all his, so like him. Approve of him or not, when one reads this book one may know Mussolini _ . . . or know him better,” says his translator, and that is why most people will read the book."

Mussolini tells the story of his life—his boyhood, his career in the army, liis work as a journalist—and gives a vivid picture of the early days of his regime. His own version of tiio Mattootti incident is a piquant item in the hook, but it is his attempted justification of his regime that is his main purpose. He writes, for example;— “My Government, in. December, gave an admonition to the Fascists tiicmselves. It was in the lollowing terms: — “ ‘ Every Fascist must be a guardian of order. Every disturber is an enemy, even it ho carries in his pocket' the identification card of the party.' “Thus, in a few words, the position and the duty of tiie party in the life of the Fascist regime were indicated.” AN UNLOOKED-FOR CLAIM. “ When, in Parliament,” Mussolini adds later in his biograpny, and this is an unexpected revelation; “J. pronounced my first speech of November 10, 1922, 'after the Fascist revolution, concluding by invoking the assistance "of Cod in my difficult task. Well, this sentence of mine seemed to bo out of place! In the Italian Parliament, a field of action of Italian Masonry, the. name of Cod bad been banned for a long time. Not even the Popular Party—the so-called Catholic Party—had ever thought of speaking of God. “ In Italy a political man did not even turn his thought to the Divinity. And, even if lie had ever thought of it, political opportunism and cowardice would have prevented him, particularly in a legislative assembly. It remained for mo to make this bold innovation! And in an intense moment of revolution. What is the truth? It is that a faith openly professed is a sign of strength. “ I have seen the religions spirit bloom again : Churches once more are crowded, the ministers of God are themselves surrounded by new respect. Fascism had done, and is doing, its 1 duty. . • .”

A SIGNIFICANT QUALIFICATION. But ho adds this significant phrase:— “Faith in Italy lias been strengthened. Fascism gi\cs impulse and vigour to the religion of the country. But it will never bo able _ ior any reason to renounce the sovereign rights of the State and of tho Junctions of the State ” —which rather goes to show that he docs not look to tho church or any other similar agency to help him in his rule. “ 1 was the leader of the revolution and chief of tho Government at thirtynine. Not only have 1 not finished my job, but 1 often led that I have not even begun it,” he writes iu a concluding chapter. “Tho better part conics toward me. I go toward it at this moment. However, 1 take pride in affirming that I have laid solid foundations lor the building of Fascism. Many ask mo what will be my policy in the future, and where lies my final objective. “My answers are here. I ask nothing for myself, nor for mine: no material goods, no honours, no testimonial; no resolutions of approval which presume to consecrate mo to history. INI y objective is simple; 1 want to make Italy great, respected, and feared; I want to render my nation worthy of her noblo and ancient traditions. • • • , “ I desire our nation to conquer again, with Fascist vigour, some decades or perhaps.a century of lost history. Our garrison is tho party, which has demonstrated its, unreplaceable strength. I have trust in young people. Their spiritual and material life is led by attentive, quick minds and by ardent hearts. I do not reject advice, even from opponents, whenever they are honest. 1 cover with my contempt dishonest and lying opponents, slanderers, deniers of the country, and everyone who drowns every sense of dignity, every sentiment of national and human solidarity in the filthy cesspool of low grudges. Defeated ones who cluck to the wind, survivors of a building which toppled for ever, accomplices in the ruin and shame in which the country was going to be dragged, sometimes do not even have the dignity of silence. . . . “I have annihilated in myself every egotism: I, like the most devoted of citizens, place upon myself and on every beat of my heart service to the Italian people. I proclaim myself their servant. I feel that all Italians understand and love me; I know that only lie is loved who leads without weaknesses, without deviation, and with disinterest and full faith. “Therefore, going over what 1 have already done, I know that Fascism, being a creation of the Italian race,- has met and will meet historical necessities, and so unconquerable is destined to give its indelible impression to the twentieth century of history.”