THE REAL MUSSOLINI

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1929, Page 7

THE REAL MUSSOLINI

INTERVIEWED .JUST AFTER ATTEMPT- ON LIKE.

An arresting account (if ii personal interview lie liiid liiul with Signor Mussclini was given to Wellington Rotal'inns recently by Air Alexander Mar-

:>v of Hollywood, United States, who while disagreeing with some of the methods employed by the Italian Diciator, said that the revitalising effect of the work .Mussolini was performing and the adoration in which he was held by his country were not to e denied.

The speaker was told that reporters writers and others had had to wait weeks to interview .Mussolini, and he realised that, as his time was limited, lie would have to alight on a subject' which would arouse immediately the interest of M.ussolini. Mr Murky called on the brother of M.ussolini at .Milan, and secured an interview of seven minutes. Proceeding to Pome the speaker went to the Senate and listened to the speeches of the members. In great contrast to the beautiful but empty oratory that hitherto bar ehar•yterised Italian politics, tv ere the “machine-gun” speeches of the members. They said in a few minutes all they bad to sity. The new Minister of Filltl lice, appointed to office the previous day. spoke for five minutes, then said: "This report of what I propose to do will be printed. If you are interested, read it,” Mussolini rose and spoke for one and a half minutes hammering into the consciousness of Ids listeners the purport of his words. -U ore was accomplished that afternoon in the Italian Parliament than was ac- J eomplislied ’ in the Washington Senate in a month.

PERSONAL APPEARANCE

That day there was an attempt upon the life of Mussolini, and consequen tly the interview was delayed. Eventually, the speaker was taken through a labyrinth of rooms and doors—lie believed deliberate! —and at last reached .Mussolini at his desk. Mr Mnrky was surprised to find that Mussolini was a short man, and far from being a bombastic Napoleon that he had been pictured, lie was gentlemanly and unassuming. He said, in broken English “How do you do, Mr Mnrky? We are both journalists. Let us sit down and have a heart-to-heart talk.” Only a <rreat man, said Mr Mnrky, could say that.

In the course of the interview that followed—and which 11 Duce allowed to far exceed seven minutes—Mr Marky gained a dose insight into the character of the man. He revealed one of the greatest intellects, and one of the most powerful brains. He was one of the most dynamic human beings walking the earth to-day. He had changed Italy. He took the reins when Italy was thoroughly disorganised, leading his black-sliirted Fascists in the most remarkable bloodless revolutions of history. Almost overnight he made Italy the most powerful governmental power in the world. He poured vigour, courage, and new hope into th 0 people, and more than anything else a desire to work, turning the forty millions of Italy into a hard-woi king loyal, and patriotic group of people.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN?

“This man lias accompli shod wonders, hut when he is "one, what will happen ?” continued the speaker. I asked him and this was his answer: “The world will not realise the object oif my work and its effect until anothoi twenty-live or fifty years have passed. I know they think me rather a poseur. Do you know why? The Italian people would not he inspired by a calm, cool calculating Anglo-Saxon; they need their theatricahsm.” Italy adored Mussolini. Most of the critics of himself and his regime were politicians who had lost their governmental positions because of him. So the outsk world received a wrong impression oil the man and of the country. He had surrounded himself with the, ablest men in Italy, and lie was preparing for the future. One of these preparations was the training of hoys and girls in Fascism, and after IS years of age they were admitted to the ranks of the Fascists. The Dictator was building up a strong force of young Italians so that if Mussolini passed away there would be dozens of men to take over his work if not his genius. And fil't.v .>r one hundred years would he needed ‘o effect all that Mussolini planned ofr the country.