MATTEOTTI'S DEATH

Hokitika Guardian, 2 September 1924, Page 4

MATTEOTTI'S DEATH

ULTI.MATU.M TO .MU.SSOLI.NL 1 LONDON, July 2. The .struggle between Signor Mussolini, the Prime Minister, and the political groups forming the Italian Parliamentary Opposition, has reached a crucial phase with the adoption by thu Opposition of a resolution in favour of withdrawing from the Chamber until a Oovcrniuent is found prepared to carry out the following measures with the least possible delay:— 1. Tile disbanding of all parly militia forces—i.o., of the Fasristi militia —inasmuch as the maintenance of tlie law, the safety of the citizen, and tlie defence of the people’s statutory liberties are duties incumbent only upon the organisations instituted to that end by the State. 2. The resolute suppression ol all illegalities, under nil conditions and against all, irrespective of persons; the law of the laud being vested in the authority of the State. The Opposition groups do not believe that measures such as these can be actually carried into effect by Signor Mussolini in spite of his reiterated promises that they will he. and they hold the (iovernliieilt politically responsible for the events which led tip to the murder of the deputy. Signin' Matteotti. AN OUTSPOKEN ATTACK.

Tlie Senate, at the end of a debate I on Signor .Mussolini's defence ot the Clovernment in connection with tlie murder of Signor Malteotli. passed a vote of confidence in the (lovortlmeiil on June 2tith by 22u votes to 21. 11l the course of the debate. Count Sforza said-- ! Stripped of inessentials—such, fi.r instance as the proposed iceonstruction of the (lovernment, an old I’arliamentary formula of which it might have been expected that we should hear no more—what is the real content of the speech which we heard from tlie Premier the day before yesterday? l-'irst, a long personal apologia; secondly, the usual periodical threat of the dangerous tension in certain Fascist •limiters ; thirdly, a peroration of good intentions. And in the long apologia, what was tin- main argument? That analogous crimes are being committed in other countries. j

As to the judgment of foreign countries— though there eottlil he no greater sign of weakness than the timid (|i!estinn : "Wind will lie said abroad?"— let me (piote the noble words of (liaeonie Matteotti to his colleagues at the Socialist ('(inference at Brussels two months ago; “We desire nothing from our comrades abroad. Each people must compier its own sovereignty. If it fails, it is because il is unworthy of if."

It would lie showing equal weakness to try to find in other countries examples of other barbarous crimes in order to soothe the Italian con-ricuce. A great country must face its realities; ami the reality is that elsewhere there have been (-limes i-omniitted by fanatics, crimes of party, of ehi-s, or ol race; here there has been a crime, following others which have all remained unpunished, and organised by men installed in tin- very centre ol the (lovernment, nuil liv the Mipi-emi' hierarchs of a party which the theory i f

national Fascism declares to he one and the same thing as the Million. A irirne committed by hierarchs who deccived the Litre as to their criminal activities? So he it. But in that ease tin- head of the (lovernment hears that blame for the inexcusable fault of having I icon warned against them b.v various people from time to time, and of hating tciiaeiniisly deli-liilcd then l , as he did in a 'pi-i-eh this year, in which he sculled at the idea of the good ivraut surrounded by evil coun-

sellors. And why did he never proceed against the eailmr dimes which growing alarmingly, hut in view oi their impunity,' with terrible logic, had their inexorable culmination in .1- Mat tent 1 1 I ragedt ? Si- in ir .Misari had liardiy leil the ( ham'ier. where he bail been guilty ol ••ayin ; w hat lie thought, when lie was half killed on ile- threshold ul Parliament. Signor Ainendola was a(tai Led and wounded in broad daylight, in the -ticcts ol I'umo. Signor l-onn was lieali-o until the Mood ran in .Milan station, in tin- jire-enee id hundreds of persons. A fourth deputy, Signor (Uiizales. was I.eaten and wounded at Ociion at an electoral

meeting, at the same time a> i lie national hero. Signin' llossetli. Look through the tiles ol tin* personal organ

nl Hie Premier, an ! yon will find allor every one of these acts nothing but excuse, lor the aggriesois and abuse mid lineals lor the victims., l-’or all ul thi-.-i- ael s notable in their virtiies, hut not graver than the infinite number of others proved in every eoiner of Italy no mi" know- of any x-rious inquiries instil ui ed or measures taken by lie- autlmrilies. Il anyone happened to he ai rested Fascist amnesty, which will remain a blot on I lie history of Italian justice, quickly set him al lihertv.

THE ASSASSINS’ M.ISCAI.CI'I.A TION.

Signor Eederzoni quickly found means of disassociating himself from responsibility lor the a! tack on the Turin house of Signor l-’rassati (editor of the "Stnmpn”). lie dismissed the prefect, lint in the long period of Fascist lawlessness when was a I'line titulary, high or low, punished for neglect of his duties? The truth is that Fascism is a transitory stale of mind, very intelligible in some respects, hut Imre of any positive intellectual content, and therefore able to exist only in an atmosphere ol prestige or terror that forbids discussion. Fascism could light endless bnU ties; hut nut a lialfie of intellect lltli I criticism. .And this was what s.-ale-l the fate of Matteotti. He was tlio J most ardent, the mast impassioned.t the best documented of opposition. 11 ( was suppressed. Discussion was J vetoed.

Those who ordered the assassination went wrong only in this; having experienced the failure of the country to speak or move in face.of so many earlier crimes, they counted on getting oil seot-lTee this lime, too. Ins!end, Italy was roused in horror; and Mattontfi. in dying, conquered. But, if the sacrifice is not to he in vain, we must ask ourselves what is meant by certain organs of the Premier, which try: "Let there lie full justice, provided’’ (as though justice could he hedged in by provisos) "that Fas. ism is not put in the duck. ’ Mho can say at what point the fatal search will stop widening? Tlie Premier cannot. for he makes the excuse that he did not know what was happening around him, among ihe supreme hierarchs oj Fascism. Of the supreme penlarchv chosen by the present Chamber. two are iu prison and one lias resigned under grave charge-: and the supreme head oi the administration of tlie public security has been removed.