In Mussoliniland

Premier Benito Mussolini continued to dominate the Italian stage. Speaking to the assembled leaders of Fascismo in the Palazzo Venezia at Rome he made it clear that he would accept no aid from other Parties because the "National Fascista Party, on account of its origin, on account of its methods, on account of its ideals and on account of its experience since 1921, energetically refuses any electoral or political alliances." He did not object, however, to including "single men from other parties, provided that their past, especially during and after the War, or their eminent intellectual qualities, are such as to give us reason to believe that they can render useful service to the nation." Of Mussolinismo--a term implying disapproval of Fascism and approval of Benito--the Premier said: "I can understand such a phenomenon, but I do not accept it. Certain people use my name to fight Fascismo. I warn them not to persist, because they might find that they have done it once too often. ... I am pictured as being surrounded by barbed wire nettings. This is a fairy story of desolating stupidity. During the 15 months of my Government one can say that the whole of Italy has passed through my office. I have seen hundreds of commissions and thousands of individuals from all social strata. I pride myself on not having refused any one, not even those who wished to speak to me of evidently futile things. "As for bad advisers, it should be sufficiently known by this time that I am not an easy man to influence. My decisions I reach by myself, often at night and in absolute solitude. Only five or six people see me every day and report to me what is happening in Italy. They usually stay with me under half an hour and then go away. I am grateful to them for their collaboration, but I assume full responsibility for everything my Government does." Drawing attention to the duties of Fascismo, "il duce" (the leader--Mus-solini) eulogized the movement thus: "As a doctrine of strength, of beauty, of discipline, of responsibility, of everything that is in opposition to all those manifestations which constitute the political life of the greater part of the world, Fascism has become a beacon of light shining in Rome, and toward which all people of the earth look, especially those who have suffered the ills we have suffered. Fascism never turns back, and I am sure that if tomorrow I should sound an alarm the whole of Italy would rally to our banners."