THE MUSSOLINI “AXE” IN ITALY

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 89, 11 January 1923, Page 5

THE MUSSOLINI “AXE” IN ITALY

A PERPLEXING PROBLEM VAST PROGRAMME OF ECONOMIES The most perplexing problem which tho now Italian Government has to face is the restoration of the finances of the country (savs the Rome correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian”). This problem is closely connected with the final internal pacification, as the ever-increasing deficit of tho Budget, with tho consequent rise <it exchange, is the principal ciuse ot the high cost of living, which has reached very alarming proportions in a country that, as Signor Nitti put it in his last speech, produces only enough food ■to support t>ho_ people for five out of the seven days of the week. Signer Mussolini attaches great importance to the revival of Italian emigration. The economies which he. proposes to introduce m all the branches of public administration are bound to increase unemployment in ♦ho country, and it is necessary, both for political and social reasons, to find an outlet for the hundreds of thousands of unemployed workmen. Before the war tne remittances from emigrants and the sums spent by foreign tourists in Italy made up the deficit in the trade balance; but these issources are now reduced to next to nothing. This is every unfortunate al a moment when the exchange is so unfavourable to Italy. From what ono . has been able to gather, Signor Mussolini’s programme of economies appears to be a vast one, and tho consequences of its. enforcement must be far-reaching. The State should surrender to private concerns the management of all services which have proved to be unremunerative to the Treasury, such as the railways, the telephones, and the monopolies, with the exception of tobacco,. salt, and lottery. Tho railway deficit lor 1922-23 is anticipated at over 1.500 millions, and the. saving of such .* largo sum would be a. great relief to a budget for which a deficit of over 7000 millions is anticipated. Another 500 millions could be easily saved by the transfer of the telephones and of certain other services to private companies. But the serious difficulty which handicaps Signor Mussolini’s action in this direction is the fact that nearly all Italian public services nave a superabundance of staff, imposed upon past Governments by the Socialist Party, who first advocated the taking over of such services by tho State in order to provide remunerative employment to its - thousands of adherents. For instance. the State railways employ a staff of something like 150,000, and alt least one-third of these are superfluous. Tho late Minister of tho Treasury in his financial statement totho Chamber of Deputies in July last announced that- about 25.000 mon would be'dismissed by the State Railways Administration during the financial year. So far very little has boon dona to reduce tho enormous expenditure on this staff. It will bo interesting to see how the present Government will meet the question of dismissals. The same remark applies to the telephone service. Drastic “Cuts” Proposed.

One hears of another project attributed to the Fascist Government in ciinmxit’on w’l'h the interest payable on internal public debts - but so far there is nothing to substantiate-this report.. It is. said that the Government intends reducing. either at on° stroke or gradually, th- interest of all public securities to 31 nor cont. This measure would annlv particularly to the national war loans, tlm 5 nor cent, consolidated stock, and the Treasury bonds. It would represent a. saving n f like 1099 millions a. rear, mid T think- that people boro would be amito prepared "to meet firs new sacrifice. nroyldod that tho working classes also we’-o called to contribute to tho restoration of the country’s finances hr nllowin" their wanes to be subjected tn income tax in the =ame Iwav as the salaries -and nonsions of Government employees. Tiorc tbo strength of the p n e P ;=e. cabinet would bo put to a somro tost. _ The various Ministries ronee.rned are busy nrennving schemes for econonncp tn bo introduced in tho’r respective Den-irtments. gio-nor Mussolini intends that there shall be no unnecessary delav in carrying out such reforms as will brine about on improvement in 'l'llo conditions of the Budget. The- public are lookinn- forward with "rent interest to the announcement of the proposed economies. Later on a full Cabinet Council will take place, at which the financial policy of the Government will be amply discussed. As to its internal policy with reference. to the struggle among the .various conflicting parties, it is to bo noted that the Communist and Socialist elements arc beginning to realise that it would be useless, to try and revolt against the rigid discipline introduced bv tho Fascist leader. The directorate, of the Communist Party published an appeal to its members urging them to resume their activities and engage the powers that be in a renewed struggle; but tho General Labour Confederation warned its members not to take any notice of the Communist appeal, but io attend quietly io their usual occupations and thus contribute to give the country the peace it so much needs. Then the Communist Parliamentary group published a statement to the effect that the party was to be considered as dissolved. Several of die Communist members of Parliament have applied for passports for Russia. Signor Mussolini has given orders to tho Prefects not to accept the resignation of provincial and city councils. He expects everyone io do his duty, and is setting a good example. An early riser, the Fascist Premier is a hard worker; he wants to be .nlormca of everything that happens,, and r ives concise and strict orders which he will allow no one to disregard or eoniment inion. His rule appears to many as a dictatorship ; hut even those who style it as such acknowledge that nil iron will and a powerful fist were needed to save Italy from utter ruin.

Socialists, “Populars,” and the Vatican.

The Popular-Party, which up to tho very last days of the Facta Government seemed decided to oppose any substantial reform of the electoral law, appears to have abandoned, its resistance on this subject, for it has contributed six members io the new Cabinet. The Vatican authorities, who were also rathe; anxious as to the schemes of the now Government, are now more at ease, and all good Catholics have appreciated Signor .Mussolini’s initiative that the patriotic ceremony at the tomb of ‘lie Unknown Warrior should Im preceded by a reliL'ious funeral service at tho church of St. Maria degli Angeli for the soldiers killed in the war. The service has been attended by tho King, tlm Premier, all tho Ministers, and tho high civil and military dignitaries of toe State. The. solemn ritual, crowned by a procession to Hie tomb of the Unknown Warrior, in front of which the King and all tjie authorities knelt iy silence for one minute, has uecp.y touched a population in whoso minds ami hearts the nostic sentiment and religious cult for the departed is most deeply rooted. Signor Mussolini could not have bo-

cun his work under better auspices. Whatever mav bo thought of the methods by which ho rose to power, there is no doubt flint most Italians look to him as the man who can, and will, open a new era of peace and prosperity for the country.