The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10th.. 1923 THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10th.. 1923 THE WEEK.

In 11 dispatch from Rome to the "Daily .Mail” written during the ltalo-Gieek crisis, Mr G. Ward Prime draws an interesting pen piituioof Mussolini and probes what, he calls the secret ot the Fascist leader. What is the secret ol Mussolini ? 'I luit. is a question the whole win Id is asking. I think I can give the answer in one wind. He is an Elizabethan. Allowing for aiteied conditions, he stands to modern Italy as Raleigh and Drake did to the England of (.Liven Elizabeth’s days. He incarnates the new spirit which has possessed his nation, and between the, Italy of the early twentieth eentmy ami the England of the early seventeenth there is much spiritual .semb-lance--the same intense national pride, the same unbounded optimism, the mimic lie:cc sense of opening opportunity, the same quick, sensitive lemier, I lie s unc tendency to lei klessness, tho same full-blooded beast of a nation that I eels its youth and strength. Tic past few weeks have seen a great stride forward made hv that cause of which Mussolini is In tli 1 lain and soul tho .ausc ol Fasci.-me. .lest one year ago it took undisputed control of the national life of Italy. The Fnscisli inarched ot: Route and assumed lespottsibilitv tor governing the nation, which they hail snatched front the very jaws of Bolshevism. With the same riillilessness as won their victory over ' ommtinist anarchy they set- to work to oiganisa and relot iii the country. i Missoi.ini bought no popularity by cheap concessions. Indeed the eosr. ol living in Italy has increased; tents have | gone up through fits measures of dei I'otttfoi, and he has turned 50,9110 sn- | | erllturns State employees out of their jj. b-. All these results he brought | a built deliberately. a s part of the price i to he paid for a greatly increased Italj iatt pi'Otlnctton in a few years tittle. 1 And meanwhile there ate no strikes: or unemployment tit Italy* The Italian nation is busy and happy. At home the Faseisti Government had already made good. It still remained for it to establish its prestige in the eyes of other nations. That Mussolini has now done hv the dignity. firmness, no derm inn, and political instinct with which-lie has acted in the sudden crisis brought about- by the murder of Dalian officers in Greece). The pendants, tile bureaucrats and the little minds that dread definite action as kittens I I read cold water, till combined against him. Sonorous denunciations were delivered at him ; great big bogeys wore shaken in his face; innuendo and distortion were used to compromise his cause. He had won through because he knew what lie wanted, and was not afraid.

DrniN-t: the week. the correspondent stated he bad three or lour long personal ooiive; sutioiis with Signor Mussolini. 01' one thing I nm sure; lie is nut the kind of man to lie dismissed hy calling him from the depths of an easy-eliaii in Downing Street, a "pinchbeck Napoleon.” Tie is a hie lector in presentday Europe, and as much deserves to he thought about seriously, not smiled at in a politely superior way. It is so oasv to ‘ guy” a great- man’s mannerism's. as Knglish ( ai ionttiros of the Napoleonic period show. And no one could do what Mussolini has already done without being great in some respects at least--great in strength of will, in eon rage, in the vision tliaf sets heiore a man a lofty goal. Hi« manner is abrupt and decisive : naturally so, for he has a very hig jolt to do. Tot after a few minutes of precautionary alootness. 1„. becomes verv human and easy to talk to. He reads and understands Knglish very well—speaks it a little, ten. His French is excellent, with a wide and cultured vocabulary. You get- some measure of the man s temperament and toree til chtiraetei by considering how wide and full his li!o is. especial!v having regard to his humble origin.' He rides on a horse and drives a racing car. His love for music is verv strong, and he sings well. Ail these tastes he keeps up in an office whovo more thnu anyone miioc Louis XIV, ]u* can say: -The State - I ant the Suite." Such is the mail who stands at the head of the Italian nation and who has held out the he of friendship to Great Jtritain. Grate responsibliiy will rest on those who allow him to draw it hack unclasped.

Tuf. Imperial Conference is in its concluding stages. Very little has lieen noised abroad, and many commentators complain accordingly. Rut there is not a great- occasion for the discussions to be published abroad. There would he Ait intimate searching as tn poKmiid

public opinion on matters of Imperial note, and also tiioso affectin'; what misfit be regarded as the foreign policy of Great Britain. On Britain’s side there would be much to communicate in the way of inside knowledge and information regarding matters of great public moment, and the visiting I’rinie I .Ministers would have much to learn of the British viewpoint. It is conceivable that a great deal of the information so communicated would be of a very confidential nature, and on that account it would be not at all advisable to publish the details broadcast. The oversea countries have been treated to a good deal of information regarding the Premiers' views on preference. That is a matter of Imperial effect, and it is as well for the countries abroad to

leant tko opinion of those from the other Dominions. To that extent publicity has been of value, but any exec's of publicity merely to satisfy curiosity is to bo avoided, and on that account we must he content to trust the Empire representatives in regard to their round the table conference.

Tin-: Prince of Wales has been discoursing this week on the benefits of travel. He is one who can speak with great nuthoiity. His mission* abroad have been of Imperial value, and the suggestion that British statesmen should travel more to study at close range the Km pile problems presenting themselves as worthy of consideration. No doubt Mr Lloyd George will be the better inhumed for his visit, to Canada and tho United States. Ihe oversea Premiers in their iivquent 'isits to the Motherland have piolitcd to their tours. British statesmen might , well turn their .special attention t" the welfare of the far-flung Dominions by :m Umpire tour. A portion of the Fleet is to make an Empire voyage very shortly, and soeli an occasion wouid be a fitting time for a British parliamentary parly representative of the various seel ions to join in the world tour. The suggestion from the Prince could hardly lie more opportune, if the idea just mentioned could he brought into practice now in conjunction with the naval voyage which will touch practically at all important points of the Empire. If Mr -Massey could secure this result he would do the British Elliptic a very great service.

DciiiNt: the week there were lurther reposts current in legat'd to a “uev. political party. The name of .Mr Coates who was with us last night, was mentioned as the probable, leader. Mr Coates gave the report prompt, dental. But it is not unlikely from till accounts that before the next general election comes round there will be a kind of fusion or understanding reached by the Reform and Liberal panic- to contest the ultimat- battle with l.ahor. The selection of a leader is the real difficulty to a complete fusion. But many | silty men on both sides are anxious fur a forward step towards a bettci understanding. If it were to come to p ; ,s s it would lead to a clear.', cut S-stic at the polls. I mid' the p;o-enl system of voting a triangular contest is an uncertain issue, and to deal with the j n:>i o-it ion an alteration in the method ei voting i- to l.e brought toswe.id. It will he during the consideration of the new proposals that the fusion idea will have the most -crao attention. Preference voting nr pmport imp'll representation will not !•■ act.epialile gone;ally. At the tir>i Uni" "i asking it would leave the i.-sue lucre uncertain than ever. On that account Die | arty in power will not be too rc'.idv to take serious risks.

Tin: weight of the Labor party is being demonstrated from time to time. Dt the present situation regarding the c'.'.al mincis much silent strength and cohesion is becoming apparent, labor made a good deal of headway at the last I t 11. due in a great measuic to the tn. angular divisions, and the desire for a change, seeing that the party in power was not acting in the interests ot the masses. In the swing of tho political pendulum. New Zealand is about due to -ee a. change in government, and as the parties stand. Labor has a pi'i.m.v

ing outlook. But were a Kefotm-iUi-eial fusion or a working understanding leached in regatd to various electorates. the position would he changed to n get't extent. But so long as there are three parties in the Held, so long will the chances of l.ahor he more roso. iitc. There was a time when Labor was the best asset Mr Massey hail to hold office. That time lias passed, and now Mr Massey himself is in danger, 'the political position will have to he reviewed vein closely by those at the head of affairs, for with the shape events aIV taking now a material change i- possible at the first time of asking.