PLAYING AT FASCISM.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 248, 18 October 1924, Page 12

PLAYING AT FASCISM.

p=? MIMICS Or MUSSOLINI. [ " BATTLE JOINED DT ITALY. ••In England now," aa Browning •TOonld have put it, ladies and gentlemen with, not a great deal to occupy their time are putting it in by forming organisations of Britieh Fascisti, and Borne of the papers are poking more or less sedate fun at their monogram, "BJV Nobody takes them very seriously, although, a few Communists recently went out of their way to break ■up a meeting of British. Fascists, and found themselves before a police Court in consecpience, says an English writer. In Italy, -where Fascism is really Fascism, the position Is different. The iVisclst murder of Deputy Matteotti provoked feelings of revulsion, but owing to the iron, grip which the Fascists maintained on the Press, little public utterance could be given to them. For a time, indeed, it seemed aa if the main party were inclined to ostracise the more violent section.; but now it aeems aa if the methods of Fascism are I not to- undergo any permanent change. Indeed, the meetings in Rome of the National Council of the organisation have resulted in the disappearance of all schism among Mussolini's followers, and the veto upon all meetings of the Opposition is as strong as ever. It is proclaimed that the functions of the Liberal and Democratic State have been, exhausted, and that a purely Fascist State must create new institutions. A reform of Parliament and of the Constitution is definitely announced, and it is indicated that Parliamentary rights arc to pass to Fascist unions and corporations. There is even talk of an Italian nation governed by guilds of technicians and workmen on the medieval model. Fascism, in short, has sunk its boats and burnt its bridges, and ha 3 turned its liberal and democratic supporterg to the door. It has become a political phalanx, self-supporting aad self-contained, permitting no intrusion and brooking no argument. The consequent resignation of non-Fascist Ministers and Deputies must logically follo-w, giving rise in turn to a Parliamentary crisis which will afford Mus3olini an opportunity of carrying the Fascist revolution to its conclusion. The battle 13 joined. Despite its boast that the majority of the country is with it, the Fascist party, in its attack upon, the present Italian Constitution, is on perilous ground. Meantime the Opposition is consolidating, and the Italian people are beginning to ■wonder 5f it is safe to shackle the toantryTO the chariot-wheels of one party, and that a party led by IfussoBni. But the British Fascist! continue to play st politics, while the clouds lower on the Irish horizon, and the city's resentment at the terms of Ehe Treaty irith, Russia hourly grows deeper.