The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1922. SUBVERSIVE MOVEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1922. SUBVERSIVE MOVEMENTS.

There are few, if any, countries that are not, in the present day, more or less afflicted with subversive movements on the part of Socialists, Communists or Bolsheviks, and the question of how to effectively cope with these lawless and disorderly forces is a problem that is puzzling the various Governments. For some time past Italy has been in the throes of a political upheaval as the result of the machinations of the extreme Socialists, who, on the pretext of collaborating with' the Popular party and Democratic group, brought about the downfall of Signor Facta’s first Ministry, subsequently replaced by his second Ministry, with a policy substantially identical with that of the first Ministry, but with some slight addition of energy in bringing about a respect for the law and an end to factious conflicts. The lesson conveyed by what is happening in Italy may with advantage be taken to heart by the law-abiding citizens of New Zealand. Dalliance with Socialists is bound to give encouragement to the Bolshevik tendencies of the Extremists, whose weapon is the general strike, and its use for throwing the country into convulsions. Signor Facta and his 'colleagues recognised the need for a return to common principles of liberty for all, and not only for certain classes, as well as for vigorous measures against subversive movements on the part of Socialists and Communists, with a return to regular work and pacific pursuits, together with a respect for the national flag and existing laws. The reality of this menace is indicated by the act of the new Government in placing under military control those provinces and great towns where the subversive tendency had become most dangerous. It is evident, however, from subsequent. events, that the Government lacked the courage to effectively cope with the evil, with the result that the Fascist! were encouraged to take drastic action to suppress disorder and practically to take command of the situation. It is obvious that any Government that would courageously set about defeating by vigorous action, the conspiracies of the leaders of subversive movements, which are invariably directed by an absurdly small number of fanatics in defiance of the general i desire of the nation and the aspirations of the great bulk of the workers, would have no difficulty in bringing about a state of civic peace. Milan, Genoa, Brescia, Parma, and other places where the military were given a free hand, speedily became perfectly quiet, while at Ancona the Faeisti. and laborers openly fraternised and celebrated their resolution to work together in harmony for the future. The patriotic Faeisti are said to have every- I where promised to create new La- i bor unions which will protect the j interests of the working classes, > without abandoning patriotic ‘ sentiments and trampling on the national flag in honor of Lenin and Trotsky. It is that spirit which, if universally diffused, would give immense strength to j the Labor movement and make ■ for peace and progress. The use j of the general or even a partial i strike for political purposes should be given no quarter, for there can be no internal pacification unless the authority of the State is absolute and obedience is rendered to all the common laws. Labor organisations have the right to full liberty, but when they go beyond that, commit acts against the law, cause a deplorable arrest of the public services and national activity, paralyse the organic functions of the country, menacing the liberties and rights of all, they naturally pro-

voke a violent reaction. There should be no trifling with the leaders of subversive movements, and their machinations should be nipped in the bud to prevent a troublesome crop of evils. Courage and determination are needed, not only by the Government, but by the generality of the people. It is by misplaced tolerance that these movements make headway.