MUSSOLINI

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1931, Page 2

MUSSOLINI

A SURVEY AND A PROPHECY. A remarkable study of .Mussolini by Herbert 1.. Willett appears in the “Christian Century.” Probably, says “Public Opinion,” it gets clc.ser to the truth and tlie real facts of the situation in Italy than most estimates oi the Dictator and future prospects, ami for that reason we quote Mr Willett’s finding#. He writes;—.“\\ j.ata-ver one may think of ii liueo, there is no denial that he has accomplished tiotable things fur Italy. He has abolished tlie party system, which, as in most other l.tndrt, wastes much of the- public attention and income in official spoil's. The present Government is an autocracy of the most absolute sort, whose machinery is dictated and controlled by a jingle mind.

“With outward show of respect lor the House of Savoy, and the gesture of loyalty to the- Royal Family, whose popularity as in England is a tradition, Mussolini is in entire -columnml of tlie nffniiH of the State. It is good policy for him to maintain the air of deference, to tbe King, and public measures receive the Royal approval before becoming iaw ; I hit no one is deceived by this posture of regard for tlie Cfclwii. l! Dube is the State, Its complettliy as was Louis XIV, mid with nolle of the hereditary warrants which were accustomed to validate such oitithoiity in former days,

“A man of humble origin, a school teacher and editor, he conceived the idea of an Italy freed from factions and rivalries, from which Communism and secret orders should he banished, nml in which there should he but on. political pattern—Fascism. By sheer force of character and an audacity that has disconcerted all opposition, he luvs apparently achieved his purpose, rind now. in tlie name of tlie common peoolc, lie rules with despotic power.

“In Italy lus is the name of authority His picture- is plastered in routth outline on every wall and most of the public buildings. His utterance# are listened to as oracles. The Press is Buleervicnt or silent. When he, appears on public occasions, great crowds gather to see him. The ‘black shirts,’ tlie military force be has assembled around him, are loyal and enthusiastic.

“The people believe in him, and bail him as the deliverer of the land from faction and spoilsmen. Tlie- men who distrust and bate him as a tyrant have left tlie country or are dead. Though diplomatically mild to people who have made attempt# upon his life, which lie affects to believe be has shown himself ruthless to opponents of his policies and of the Fascist movement.

“He docs not hesitate to display the same autocratic attitude toward the inhabitants of the Italian dependencies. Ho bus ju#t moved eighty thousand Arabs from tiic .lobe) piatpnu Lybiu to new areas on the Mediterranean cuus'fc as an act of discipline.

“Meantime remarkable reforms have been put in operation throughout the country. The railroad system has been immensely improved. Trains are well equipped and run on schedule. The right of way is protected and kept attractive. Electricity is being introduced, which does away with smoke and cinders. Motor roads are equal to any in Europe. Water-power is being' utilised by turbines, and is carried • long distances over seemingly impassable mountain regions. “Tiu; reputation for dishonesty and pc***: thieving which disgraced Italy is disappearing. The police system is much more efficient than in some other lands; begging, which was formerly the curse of the cities, and especially of the churches, lias been greatly reduced, and the vile traffic in the obscene, for which Naples and some other towns were notorious, is disappearing. The streets are cleaner, and the unpleasant odours so often encountered in former days, arc less in evidence. Not all of this improvement is to bo credited to Mussolini; but to him more than to any other man the praise is due.

I “The public health has been made more a matter of governmental concern. The water in most places is entirely safe for drinking. Unemployment seems to be I:iss of a problem than in most other countries. Public works are contrived to provide work for men out of a- job. And when that device is inadequate they are put into the Army. “This seems to be less for the purpose of increasing to inordinate proportions the fighting strength of the nation than to take care of its manpower and bolster up the national moral. Mussolini is often accused of preparing Italy for a war of aggression. This may indeed be the reason for his increase of the Army and his refusal to accept a lower ratio of naval strength than France. Tt is a fact that nearly all his public utterances have a military ring. He delights, apparently, in the reviewing of troops. He has the faculty of keeping all Europe on the anxious seat as to his aggressive intentions. “Yet lie is no fool. He knows that Italy is the least resourceful of the major European Powers. Her man-pow-er is limited, her war record disastrous, ns Cnporetto and the Piavo prove; her natural resources in mineral wealth are small, in spite of Vergil’s boasts, and her position the most vulnerable in Europe. Moreover. she lias suffered incredibly from earthquake and volcanic disasters, and is destined to a like fate times without number in the future.

“To provoke war with any of her neighbours would he to invite trouble. But Mussolini is shrewd enough to perceive the value of the Imperial ges-

ture in stimulating the loyalty and enthusiasm of his people, and they react with delight to his arrogant and threatening words towards the rest of the world. Some day he may overdo the play and start an undrsired conflict. Jn that ease he will repeat the folly of Napoleon and leave his land in ruins. “As to the future, no one can prophesy. I! Duce insists that Fascism is so firmly entrenched that it will survive his leadership, and in another generation become the accepted creed of half Europe. His followers a fleet to believe this statement. Careful observers in Italy and elsewhere, however, are of another mind. “There is no man in sight to take Mussolini's place when he passes, and it is not improbable that the nation will fall back into the old party system and become again the victim of factions. But it can never go hack to the old conditions from which it is so happily and rapidly emerging. It has learned some lessons, even at the bands of a. severe and egotistical teacher. Perhaps it is more nearly ready for democracy than when the Dictator took over the rule from an amiable hut inefficient monarchy. Time alone can decide.