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The doleful Colonel seems to have put his foot in it, though his intentions may have been of the best. Evidently, England did not want sympathy or condolence, and just as certainly the United States did not want to be called harsh in its demand on England, which was nevertheless far more stringent than the demand on all other debtor nations.-The Wheeling Intelligencer.

It sounds like the worst rebuff experienced by Mr. Harvey since the memorable repudiation of his embarrassing support by Woodrow Wilson. The Anglo-Saxons of Peacham, Vt., will be pained and humiliated by the rejection of Mr. Harvey's hands across the sea. But the Colonel might have known better. The British may have their troubles, but they certainly do not relish the risk of impairing their credit by being advertised as hopeless bankrupts. Strange how a former London ambassador could misjudge British temper so sadly as to "get in bad" and become the target for indignant repudiation. -The Milwaukee Sentinel.

England may deceive her disparagers, as she has done not a few times before. But her danger to-day is great, not because of her obstacles or foes, but because of her workers' attitude. If in that they persist, if her people do not recover their old wish and will to work, not only will they deplete old England's strength, but also doom their children to worse poverty than has afflicted themselves.-The Minneapolis Journal.

The argument reads very much like an opening plea for revision of the British debt settlement, a comparison of that with the settlement made with Italy and the expected settlement with France being items in the citation. But the Colonel's lament has produced something of a repercussion in England. He is receiving small thanks for his wailing, even for the obvious purpose he has in mind of moving a revision of the debt settlement. Indeed his article has moved some exceedingly sharp rejoinders from British publicists, who probably take Colonel Harvey more seriously than he deserves.-The Charleston Post.

Unintentionally, perhaps, Colonel Harvey has rendered the British nation a service of great value. His article, which has been printed widely in England and the colonies, has awakened public pride. The Britisher does not believe that things are as gloomy and seriously bad as Harvey has indicated. But he is going to find out if it is so, and he will set to work to make the necessary repairs.-The Utica Dispatch.

It is just possible, of course, that ex-Ambassador George Harvey takes too unfavorable a view of the British status, just as his predecessor, Mr. Page, invariably took too partial a view.-The St. Louis Globe-Democrat.

NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW

JUNE-JULY-AUGUST, 1926

"THE HON. MUSSOLINI"

WHITHER AND WHEN?

BY THE EDITOR

Is "the Hon. Mussolini", as he was designated by his most discerning interpreter, the Baron Bernado Quaranta di San Severino, three years ago, or "Il Duce", as he is now commonly denominated, a mere Bombastes Furioso or an extraordinarily astute egomaniac? That is the question which at the moment, more vexatiously than any other, agitates the Chancelleries of Europe.

And well it may. So long as the Dictator confined his amazing activities within the boundaries of his own country and exercised them to its apparent advantage, there seemed to be less cause for concern than for gratitude at the success of Fascism in withstanding the encroachments of Bolshevism upon the apprehensive democracies of the Continent. Phenomenal though it seemed, his rise to a position of authority in Italy unsurpassed by that of any Cæsar was regarded as no more than a passing phase of the tumultuous aftermath of the great upheaval which presently would disappear in the wake of a popular revolt or of a personal assassination.

But nearly four years have elapsed since the King accepted the resignation of the Hon. Facta and appointed the Hon. Mussolini Prime Minister, and neither of these pleasurable anticipations has been realized. Indeed, as to actual happenings, the precise reverse has transpired with respect to each expectation. The futile attempt of a demented foreign woman to kill served only to

Copyright, 1926, by North American Review Corporation. All rights reserved.

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awaken sympathy and to increase the heroic stature of Il Duce to a degree that enabled the President of the Chamber of Deputies to evoke tremendous applause by attributing to him divine origin. "God gave Mussolini to us!" shouted Signor Casertano; "Beware who touches him!"

And the Imperator himself, with the deprecatory gesture of a natural actor, rejoined calmly: "The episode which provoked your magnificent demonstration, whose sincerity I appreciate, has now faded from my memory. But if I do think thereof it is with a feeling of annoyance, of boredom, as for foolish things."

And then, raising his voice: "I do not want exaggerations. Mussolini has that in his composition which loves to participate in risk, and although I understand a certain anxiety, I declare I have not the least intention to hide or lose touch with the Fascist masses and the Italian people. There are anxieties of another nature just now and I emphatically declare all human lives are destiny's own. I add that in no case, under no circumstances, will Fascismo soften its programme. At this moment everything is prepared. Let it be known at home and abroad, because Fascismo will continue to rule the destinies of the Italian people with an iron hand."

It is an ominous sign when one begins to speak of himself in the third person, but the significance in this instance appears trifling beside the threat of perpetuation of “iron hand" domination, following complete submission of a whole people, from King to humblest peasant, to an embodiment of force and fear.

Already, we are informed by European journals unaccustomed to fantastic utterance, Il Duce has begun preparations for indefinite continuance of Fascist rule by organizing infant training centres called "Balilla", in which children under seven years of age are taught the following:

CATECHISM

Question. How many Commandments has Italy given to her sons, and what are they?

Answer. There are Ten Commandments.

1. I am Italy, thy mother, thy sovereign, thy goddess.

2. Thou shalt have no other mother, sovereign, or goddess above me. 3. Thou shalt honor her god and keep her festivals, etc.

CREED

Question.-What does it mean to be a Fascist?

Answer. It means that the commandments, precepts, and sacraments of Italy must be observed.

Question.-What is its creed?

Answer. It is the creed given by the Apostles of Italy and of Fascism. Question. Of how many articles does it consist?

Answer. Of twelve articles, as follows:

1. I believe in Rome Eternal, the mother of my Fatherland;

2. And in Italy, her firstborn;

3. Who was born of her virgin womb by the grace of God;

4. Who suffered under the barbarian invader, was crucified, slain and buried;

5. Who descended into the sepulchre, and rose again from the dead in the nineteenth century.

6. Who ascended to Heaven in her glory in 1918 and in 1922 (by the March on Rome);

7. Who is seated at the right hand of Mother Rome;

8. Who will come thence to judge the quick and the dead.

9. I believe in the genius of Mussolini;

10. In our Holy Father Fascism and in the communion of its martyrs; 11. In the conversion of the Italians; and

12. In the resurrection of the Empire. Amen!

Barring a denunciation of this "sacrilegious creed" by the Bishop of Brescia, with the assent of the Vatican, not a single public protest has been recorded by the Italian press. When the Hon. Mussolini calls himself "Il Duce" he is too modest by half; compared with him, Louis XIV was no more than a pitiable pretender when he boasted:

"L'Etat, C'est Moi!”

But it is not the clearly warrantable attitude of the Dictator toward the cowed forty millions of Italians that disturbs the peace-seeking statesmen of Europe.

"It is not for us," Premier Briand declared to the Deputies, "to indicate to other peoples the manner in which they ought to govern themselves;" and even the Radicals, with Russia in mind, applauded. Nor was there a sign of disapproval when the speaker continued in his most mollifying vein: "I hasten to say that we have been in friendly relations with Italy. All the contacts we have with her show that the Italian people freely and in

conditions particularly difficult, have, by a sort of instinct of conservation, and to remedy a situation which seemed really unsolvable, turned towards a certain régime. The Italian people chose freely. It is their affair.

"Italy hasn't all the means she might wish for. There is a sort of interior boiling going on. It is quite natural that the steam should seek an outlet. The chief of this people, when he finds himself in contact with them, brings a sort of exaltation and enthusiasm, and somewhat vigorous assertions of hope.

"He utters words which may astonish us, who are not under the same conditions and have not the same needs, but I stick to realities, and the diplomatic conversations show a great spirit of cooperation between the two peoples. I am confident that the Italian Government does not wish to disturb European peace."

Quickly recognizing these as words of policy rather than of conviction and designed to allay expressions rather than feelings of apprehension, the Chamber remained mute, but the Deputies made no concealment of approbation when, immediately following Il Duce's claim to the Mediterranean as an Italian lake, M. Raiberti, Chairman of the Budget Committee, sternly demanded a stronger navy to maintain "a free Mediterranean with free communication with North Africa."

Meanwhile, after having stirred to their depths the eight Powers now exercising sovereignty in the Mediterranean by continually shouting "Mare nostrum", "Our destiny is on the sea," "No one can stop our inexorable will," and the like, while making his spectacular journey, it is a circumstance worthy of note that since he returned Il Duce's utterances have become less specific. No sooner had he landed than he seemed to forget the marvelous potential power of "our glorious navy",-incidentally limited by the Washington Conference to two battleships as compared with an equal number for France, one for Greece, one for Turkey and five for Great Britain, all vitally interested, to say nothing of three for Japan and five for the United States, alike concerned in maintaining the Mediterranean as the commercial highway which it has now become, and has shrouded his purposes in mystery. Having roused his hearers to a high pitch of expectancy, he spoke these words:

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