MUSSOLINI AND WOMEN

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1923, Page 4

MUSSOLINI AND WOMEN

LONDON, July 3.

After her lively visit to Russia Mrs Clare Sheridan was sent on a “roving commission” lasi summer through Europe on behalf of the New 'l oi k World : and the commission's “report” “In Many Blares” has just been published.

She was to tell America what dopressed Europe was really thinking about in the intervals of pondering the housing problem, reparations, and the price of the German mark. She saw Mussolini just when lie was being borne to power on the crest of his Fascist wave. She asked him how it was possible that he had once been a Socialist, and what it was that had changed him ino what he had become. He answered:

German militarism, that is what changed me. Do you remember what the German Socialists did when war broke out? Mrs Sheridan calls him the “man with the mock Napoleon head,” and says, “His walk had not the firm decision of a strong man, but the shuffling step of a delimit child.” He cares not for women fat mention of them he ground his teeth savagely) : “Women make one suffer lie cares no for children : “After the age of eight they become ties jietits vieieux" (vicious little wretches). (Vos, thought r—in Italy!) “1 DO NOT LIE.” “He said lie loved the people.” “I guarantee that the 'people' are going to he satisfied. I do not promise them l’aradise. I do not lie to them. 1 only promise them the truth——l guarantee that the people——” And then he broke off, lowered his voice, and with a mischievous twinkle ho added : “But 1 am not so sure about the bourgeoisie, that they are going to be After several conversations Mussolini told Mrs Sheridan that lie had “said too much" and wished her to write not liiiig, about him. If he came across anything about himself with the name Sheridan attached to it. fie would have me pursued by his Easeisti police, and there was not a country ill the world ill which 1 would Her conclusion about him is: Mussolini is a striking example of force and feebleness. He can he completely controlled by those around him. and, unfortunately, his entourage contained no one of ativ intellectual or moral value. She travelled from Dublin to Cork witli Harry Egan and Michael Collins. “What would you have done il you had been England Y" Barry Egan a-k cd Collins. lie replied unhesitatingly: “Why, simply have dismantled the railways, closed the hanks, and blockaded the ports. Ireland would have been paralysed." Collins also said: “One must never forget how entirclv due il was lo America that Ireland had been ahh. to w i n."