Boycott

At Rome, assembled the Italian Parliament minus its Opposition. Some 150 Socialist Deputies, true to their promise made after the murder of Matteotti (TIME, June 23), boycotted the Legislature with the result that 250 Fascisti and a mere handful of Liberals and Communists disported themselves on the benches and tried to make the Chamber of Deputies look crowded.

The opening proceedings were entirely uncharacteristic of Italian Parliaments. Whatever the Fascisti said, only the Fascisti could applaud or boo. And, more strange, there was a total absence of that usually irresistible temptation for the Opposition spokesman to speak at the same time the Government spokesman. At least in this respect, the boycotted Parliament was superior to its predecessors.

In his opening speech, Mussolini paid tribute to the murdered Deputies Matteotti and Casalini and to the recently deceased General Ricciotti Garibaldi, son of the great Liberator. After resuming his seat, the leader of the Communists arose to inform the Chamber that his Party would not sit in the present Parliament. He made himself objectionable--so much so that a mighty, muscular Fascist towered over him with menacing fists, shouting: "I don't hit because the mere sight of you makes me sick." A fight was avoided; and a few minutes later, the Communist concluded his speech and led his followers from the Chamber to the delighted taunts from the Fascisti of "encore." After four days of uninspired debating, the Chamber of Deputies approved the Government's foreign policy and returned a vote of confidence in Mussolini by 315 to 6 votes; 26 Deputies, led by ex-Premier Orlando, who was elected on a Fascist ticket, abstained from voting. Ex-Premier Gioletti, heading the Liberal Opposition, and his supporters voted against the Government.