MUSSOLINI'S TRIUMPH

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 146, 21 June 1924, Page 16

MUSSOLINI'S TRIUMPH

POWER OF FASCISM IN ITALY.

Signor Mussolini has obtained the Parliamentary majority which he sought, by means which have appeared strange to English eyes, from the Italian electorate, , says the "Westminster Gazette." Tho curious electoral law under vyh,iph the contest has.taken place, and thp prolonged suppression of any overt opposition to Fascis.ni, deprive th'u result of a great part oj its significance as an expression of the _pplitlcal views of tho Italian people; but the reports of the voting certainly suggest that the majority of Italians, whether they have any positive predilection for Fascist rule or n.ot, have no clear ■ alternative in mind. Very possibly the election will prove an irnpartarft stage in the political development of Italy, and of Fascism' itself. Signor Mussolini must almost certainly modify his attitude towards Parliam.ent.ai such, noiv that the assembly whose authority he overthrew is no more, and that his own supporters ars in a majority. Hitherto Fascism has been a,n extra-Paraiamentary and semi-military force.: now it liiust begin to function its a Parliamentary' party. The change is at least one step buck towards democratic government. The tasting tinifi will come when (be Fascist Government, and tho now Parliament havu to bend their minds to some acutely ■controversial ■ domn.it ie issue. For tho basis of Fascism is 'not so much n. political docl.rinc as an intense nationalism born of the war.