BONOMI: “BY THE SIDE OF THE DEMOCRACIES”

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24370, 23 September 1944, Page 6

BONOMI: “BY THE SIDE OF THE DEMOCRACIES”

ITALY AFTER FASCISM

(Published by arrangement)

“The tradition of our Risorgimento demands that Italy should stand by the side of the democracies.” So said Ivanoe Bonomi, in his first speech as the new Italian Prime Minister. He thus condensed the thesis which the antiFascists had stubbornly maintained and fought for, even when their battle seemed hopeless. This thesis, or rather ■this faith, was that Fascism was always foreign, and indeed opposed to Italian history and interests. To quote the leader of the Justice and Liberty movement, Carlo Rosselli, murdered by French Fascists on the orders of Mussolini, ‘‘Fascism is anti-Italy.” Ivanoe Bonomi was born in 1873. In those times mothers were not ashamed to call their children after their favourite literary hero. Signora Aglie Bonomi had a liking for Sir Waller Scott, but. at the same time, she had. like all Italians, some difficulty with her ‘‘h’s." Thus, it happened that young Bonomi was christened Ivanoe. Mantua, his birthplace, is the centre of one of Italy’s richest provinces and at the same time a hotbed of social claims. Young Bonomi 'saw new industries grow like mushrooms. But he also saw how the newly-imported machines, instead of lightening the workers’ tasks, increased their poverty. On tlie rich riceflelds of the Mincio, Adige, and Po valleys, he -saw thousands of landless peasants toiling excessively. .The few “soldi" which they could earn by their labour would do no more than keep their families from death by < starvation during the winter.

Bonomi could afford to go to a university. He took two pecuiiarly different degrees; he became a Doctor of Law and of Natural Sciences. But he soon felt that he could not ignore the ever-growing misery in this, one of the richest Italian provinces. While teaching in secondary schools, he devoted more and more time to politics. With Filippo Tuiati, Claudio Treves, Camillo Prampolini and other famous figures, he founded the Italian Socialist party. Bonomi and Mussolini When, in 1909, he entered Parliament, he was already in trouble with his comrades. Three years earlier he had published a book which roused much excitement in the Italian Left. In ‘‘The New Roads of Socialism” he reminded his comrades of the realities of the day; of a world where capitalist economy was yet strong and a rivalry between various imperialisms still belligerent. He advocated gradual advancement and reforms as being eventually more profitable to the working class than world revolution. On the proposal of Benito Mussolini, then editor of the party’s organ. “Avanti;” Bonomi was expelled in 1912 on the issue of the Libyan war. Bonomi and some friends founded a new party and bravely called it “Reformist Socialist.” His Mantua constituents, still faithful, returned him to Parliament.

Three years later Bonomi supported Italy’s intervention in the World War. This time Benito Mussolini was on his side. But while Bonomi at once volunteered for military service, Mussolini was too busy editing his interventionist newspaper and receiving cheques for this activity from 'the French Messageries Hachette. Incidentally, it was this French money which converted him from extreme Pacificism to extreme interventionism. Meanwhile Bonomi, who, being then 41 and an M.P., could have had exemption from fighting duties, obtained permission to be sent to the front line. A second lieutenant in the Alpine troops, he fought in the battles of Sasso di Mezzodi and Le Tofane in the Dolomites, mountains respected even in peace time by intrepid alpinists.

Later, Bonomi was summoned to Rome to take over the Ministry of Public Works. With few interruptions he remained in the Cabinet up to 1922. The end of the international conflict did

Thk article on Ivanoe Bonomi, leader of the Italian Government, appeared in the “Observer’s" Profile series on August 13.

not end the dispute between Socialist! and Reformists. When he was War Minister the Socialists accused him of arming the Fascist squads and using them as cat’s-paws for the nationalistic aims of the Giolitti Government. There is. indeed, little doubt that at this' particular moment Bonomi was nearer ' to the Fascists than to his old comrades.. Rise of Fascism But it is also true that Bonomi's principles were different from those of Mussolini and Laval, who did not know the difference between compromise and desertion. A few months later, when the Fascists identified themselves with the landowners. Bonomi, by now Prime Minister, denounced them as slave-drivers. But it was too late. Fascism was a power in the land. Like his romantic namesake, Ivanoe Bonomi disappeared from the scene. At the election of 1924 Bonomi’s constituents at Mantua fell for Fascism, and he was not re-elected. In the neighbouring province of vigo a young friend of his was returned to Parliament. Once, in the House, he dared to denounce the atrocities and violence used in the election. He was murdered. His name was Giacomo Matteotti. From that time onwards the Government became a fully totalitarian regime. But Bonomi, protected by the Collar of the , Annonciade, the highest Italian order which had been conferred on him for his work at the Rapallo Conference, remained in Rome. His front door, his telephone, his letters, and his guests were closely watched. “Reconstruction” When Mussolini declared war oa France and Great Britain Bonomi felt that the time had come to pass from patient preparation among friends to a wide organisation of resistance. He led the Roman underground movement, called “Reconstruction,” which considered itself the ally of the United Nations Inside the Fascist fortress. Later on the. movement was incor- . porated into the National Front of Lib., eration. Six hours after Mussolini’* fall a newspaper edited by Bonomi ap, peared on sale at Roman street corners. Next day leading anti-Fascista met at Piazza della Liberia 4, and rejected an offbr by Marshal Badoglio, to participate in the King’s Government. However, they pledged themselves to observe a political truce until an armistice had been obtained. Perhaps it was not by chance that this meeting took place at Bonomi’s home. After 45 days Badoglio, pressed on by the Popular Front, concluded an armistice. But to the patriots of Rome the armistice did not bring peace, but nine months of German occupation. The hour had come for Bonomi and his friends. The old man, who had felt himself a stranger in his own country when it was ruled by an oppressive regime, now added all hi! patriotic fervour to the fight against the foreign oppressor. He became the leader of the underground Government in the capital. At the centre of the great movement of resistance stood this white-haired, slightly built, and scholarly septuagen-. arian. When the Allies entered Roma they found there, organised and working. a popular Government. It was the first Italian Government for 22 year! born out of popular support. Its members, young or old, are without exception men who had fought Fascist aggression in its very root and. origin. Now they approach the Allies not with the servility and hidden revengefulness of defeated men, but with the frankness and eagerness of people who know that they have long agreed on the most important issues. It is an agreement which could never be imposed by the violence of arms, but only by the compelling force of an idea, Bonomi presides over the hew. Cabinet, leader and symbol of a new Italy, of which Ivanoe is now the Talisman,