What Next?

With almost the entire country in a pre-election state of mind owing to Premier Mussolini's action in closing, locking, bolting and barring Parliament (TIME, Dec. 24), Italian political circles suffered from a severe attack of nerves when "il duce" (the leader-Mussolini) wrote to Signor Carnazza, Minister of Public Works, and said he "had not decided" to hold general elections.

Such a statement was open to varying interpretations. Some considered that the elections would not take place because Mussolini had never mentioned anything about dissolution; others pointed out that the Premier might even yet 'decide to hold them. In political circles, the wildest confusion reigned.