Notes

It is a little difficult nowadays to visualize a meeting of the Italian Cabinet. It has 13 members. There is no difficulty in imagining eight of them seated around a table. But the other five are hard to find with an unimaginative eye. The five: Premier Benito Mussolini, Minister of Foreign Affairs Benito Mussolini, Minister of War Benito Mussolini, Minister of Marine Benito Mussolini, and (since last week when the Air Ministry was restored to the Cabinet) Minister of the Air Benito Mussolini. In addition, although the department has not yet been formally created, Benito Mussolini also functions as Minister of Agriculture.

Because of a housing shortage, the Government had for three years exempted all newly built houses from taxation, in order to encourage building. The three year period was about to expire. Contractors were charging famine prices to complete buildings before the exemption expired. Finance Minister Volpi last week therefore extended the exemption period for new construction another three years.