“ITALY IS A PRISON”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 212, 26 November 1927, Page 9

“ITALY IS A PRISON”

Nitti Attacks Fascism

NO COUNTRY FOR FREE MEN ’’Violence, Pillage and Exile” By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright.

Reed. 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Friday. ITALY is a prison where life is intolerable,” declared Signor Francesco Nitti, an ex-Prime Minister of Italy, and chief speaker of the No-More-War Movement conference at Westminster Hall, where he made a remarkable attack on Fascism.

TTE said that Italy had abolished A every safeguard of the individual, and every liberty. Despite false satisfies, financial disorder was becoming worse daily, production was diminishing. “The White Dictatorship is equally as bloody and brutal as the Red dictatorship, and is unjustified by any ideal, even a false one,” he said. “Italy is indulging in violence against her adversaries. Houses are pillaged and sacked and devastated, and thousands are being deported without trial. “All independent newspapers have been suppressed. Parliament has been suppressed. No profession can be carried on without the Government's consent, and no freeman can live in Italy. “Mussolini has never disguised his will to war. All Fascists speak only war. When the Dictator feels himself lost he makes war on Italy. The Dictator foresees a war, in which Italy must participate, coming between 1935 and 1940. —A. and N.Z.

A GREAT LIBERAL Signor Francesco Saverio Nitti was born in July, IS6B, in Melfi, South Italy. Having studied mathematics and finance, lie became lecturer at Milan University. He first attracted attention by his book, Ttaly at the Opening of the 20tli Century,” and embarked on political journalism. In 1004 lie entered the Chamber. He was a Socialist until King Humbert!s assassination. He then became a Radical, but later was an adherent of Giolitti, in whose fourth Cabinet he held a portfolio. He carried through with great vigour the measure for the nationalisation of life assurance. In the spring of 1014 he retired with Giolitti. “CHEAP* BREAD” POLICY Salandra then brought Italy into the war. Meanwhile Signor Nitti held aloof and only emerged from his retirement to join the Italian Mission to the United States in the spring of 1017, to appeal for economic assistance. His views on the war he kept to himself; but in October, 1017, he joined the Orlando Government, resigning in January, 1919. After the fall of the Prime Minister Signor Nitti formed in June, 1919, a Cabinet in which he took the portfolio of the Interior. His position was not weakened even when after the Socialist victories at the polls and during Italy’s difficulties abrrcid (Adriatic question, etc.. - ), Tittoni, his Foreign Minister, resigned in December, 1919. It was not till May, 1920, that Nitti fell. When, however, Bonomi declined the Premiership, he came into office again for a month. But in view of the financial situation his “cheap bread” policy could not be maintained and his resignation was due to the rise in bread prices. PRAISE AND BLAME Since then Signor Nitti has written a

g-ood deal. His book “Europe Without Peace” (1921) aroused great attention; in this he attacked the Versailles Treaty and the policy adopted toward Germany. A second volume dealt with the “Collapse of Europe,” and in a third “The Tragedy of Europe and America” (1924), he maintained that Germany was not alone responsible for the war. He is also a critic of the League of Nations, which he has described as a

“guarantee pact of the victors.” The only method for the rehabilitation of Europe, he thinks, is the abolition of Customs duties. This attitude has brought him both praise and blame. In the former category is the award of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922. On the other hand, he has been charged with having in America in 1917 promised President Wilson to give special privileges to American residents in countries on the Adriatic coasts and to proclaim a republic in Italy. These and other charges are answered in a book, “L’Opera di Nitti,” written by his son, Vincenzo Nitti.