ITALIAN AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1920, Page 3

ITALIAN AFFAIRS

fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] THE ITALIAN SOCIALISTS. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) ROME, Sept. 12 Further details of the decisive decisive defeat of extremists at Milan Conference show that despite the Govern4fc meat’s warning that any extremist resolution would lead to immediate armed intervention, with a probable bloodshed on an unprecedented scale, the Socialist Party’s executive proposed an extension of the agitation to all categores of workers; also its transformation from an economic into a political struggle, implying a revolutionary attempt. After a discussion lasting all day, Deputy Daragona’s amendment negativing such a course was carried bjy nearly 182,000 majority, otat of 1,100,000 voters. Ninety thousand abstained from voting. The Socialist group then adopted a resolution demanding the immediate reopening of the Chamber. Moderates who signed a powerful manifesto on the eve of the conference included Buozze, who was largely responsible for the metal workers agitation, and Turatni Treaves and Prampolui. The manifesto censured the extremist precipatincr of a useless irritation and conflicts with authorites and capitalists. The manifesto added: “Extremists’ profess that violence is a normal means o struggle, yet they raise qn outcry when violence of others more rapid than ours, hurts us.”

SOCIALIST REGIME, (Received this day at 1.30 p.m.) WARSAW, Sept. 12. The “Times” Milan correspondent writes that the Government is practically .non-existent. Workmen are seizin,, without interference, factory after factory. Socalist leaders are discussing whether the, time is ripe for a revoluton. They will probably conclude it is not ripe, but the question is whether the leaders will he able to control the men. If the owners grant their demands, it is possible the storm will pass leaving Italian bolshevism a grotesque falure. Describing the seizure of factories, the correspondent says when the whistle sounds ,tlie gates are rushed to prevent the exit. The master experts are directing the. personell of those requested to continue their duties. The men are then organised under Soviet management and hoisted the red flag. Stewards impose discipline more rigorous than would he tolerated

\mder the masters. Robbers and ot iei offenders are punished most severely. The families of workers are buying thfsi'r food and emissaries pass between the factories and headquarters ,exchang , ini, tools, machinery and other necessaries. The Soviet organ boasts that under the new regime the production has increased ten per .cent, but its own figures disclose it is really reduced y seven-eighths. No raw material is arriving at the factories, no sales ar arranged, and outside firms refuse to give or receive others. A tour of the city makes it had to believe it is nurstlg a Soviet. All is orderly and nor- ' jnal excepting in the factory quarters A typical incident of the new rule is that four policemen walking on a footpath were ordered to walk m the middle of the street % a sentinel on top of a bnnaing They “ obey and the sentinel cried: Alright.