MAKING A COUNTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 144, 21 June 1933, Page 9

MAKING A COUNTRY

[THE PART OF FASCISM ACHIEVEMENTS IN ITALY [NOW SPREADING ABROAD A visit to Eome is an inspiration to the modern mind. The events of the last decade in Italy should be studied Ly all who are interested in tho problems of the present age. They should, above all, be examined by those who are concernod by the prosont plight Df Britain, writes Sir Oswald Mosley in tha "Daily Mail." The first ten years of Fascist government are now reviewed in Eome. An exhibition of exceptional power and originality details the Fascist story. Step by step the visitor is led by vivid narrative from the utter collapse and disintegration of Italy after the war, through the first formations and early .struggles of the Fasces, to tho ■> constructive achievements of a regime which has lifted Italy from the dust and placed her- among tho leaders of the nations.1- The story of the early struggle is grim and harsh; now worlds are not lightly won. We see the early Fascists driven and hunted as conspirators against the State. Police, chiefs, instructed by "national'^ Governments, and the organised outrages of bullying Socialist majorities combine to harass destroy them. Tho record of tho early brutalities inflicted by Socialist and Communist enemies upon their young men is no pretty story. Photographs and documentary proofs are exhibited of isolated and wounded men, tortured and mutilated by their opponents, who later shrieked their complaints' to a listening Europe when they were forced to swallow the retaliatory dose 'pi castor-oil. BECAME A FORCE. But tho .Fascist movement grew the Jnore vigorously in the face of oppression, until it became tho mighty force Which saved Italy from destruction Vhen the old-world government ran 4ip tho white flag of surrender in Answer to the challenge of anarchy. The story of the eaily reverses is. hot shirked. Tho shattering adversities of the early struggle serve merely to enhance the glory of tho final achievement, Mussolini himself in Milan polled tmly five thousand votes against tho hundred thousand of his Socialist opponent. Like a game boxer after a icnacß-down blow, he came back to his adversary with redoubled vigour. After incessant struggle he marched into Kome only three years later with one hundred thousand men to lay the foundations of the new Italy. Fascism fights hard and moves fast; it i 3 an epic story. By sacrifice, heroism, martyrdom, and death the greater Italy was brought to birth. In this exhibition the first details of .the now State aro given. A later exJdbition will complete tho story. Already that proud record is written in ;fact over the whole map of Italy. A corporato system "has brought i-las9-war to an end, and has immensely increased the wealth and well-being of the nation. Strikes and lock-outs aro no more. The figures of production in every sphere show an astonishing advance. In the face of world depression the standard of life has, not only jjeen maintained, but has been raised. WORKERS' LOT. ' The worker in his leisure hours bn.joys recreations and amenities which tire unknown to any but' the richest classes in other countries. The great ."Dopo Lavoro (after-work) system of Fascism provides the- worker, with a club life in his spare time, and gives opportunities for intellectual and physical improvement that no other system of government in the world has oven attempted to provide. The chain of youth organisations.which are charged ■with the care of tho young from the cradle ; to maturity aro transforming the physique of the r/ice. Every year hundreds of thousands of children are carried from the cities for holidays by 'Hie sea or in the mountains, and even the children of Italians resident abroad ore- brought annually to Italy for this purpose, without charge. Tho change in tho housing conditions of the people makes the old Italy unrecognisable. Tho primitive hut is Replaced by modern and scientific.farm buildings; tha great marshes which partially encircled Eome have been drained and converted intb rich and productive soil; wages which compare very favourably with previous Italian standards have been paid in place of tho dole to the unemployed, who have been employed on national works of public utility which have greatly enjiched the nation. ■ EVERYTHING NEW. New houses, new roads, new land, enormous water-power schemes, great grids of cheap electricity, city and countryside transformed to modern usages are the enduring monuments of the drive and efficiency of executive government. Without Fascism these advancements were unthinkable. At tho head of the State is v man of genius who represents tho first emergence of the modern man to power I'rom the turmoil and chaos of the oldworld political systems, and who will live in history not ony as tho statesman •who saved Italy,trat also as the origin and inspiration of world-Fascism. But it must never bo forgotten that before ho could achieve tho salvation of his country he had to create the instrument without which that achievement was impossible. That instrument was an organised and disciplined Fascist movement, permeating and gripping <ivery phase- and institution of national 3ifo. The work of modern Italy was anade possible by tho early struggle of the pioneers of Fascism and by the heroism of its martyrs. Their names •will live for ever in a simple memorial of poignant emotion and beauty. It is ji small dark chapel, which reflects :from,every side the single word "Proxente." When a Fascist fell in actiou Ms name was called in tho next rollnail of his squadron, and all his companions replied together "Presente." IN ALL COUNTRIES. So they will bo "present" for everImoro in the work of the new Italy •which they loved so dearly and for >vhose sake they gave so much. It is not difficult to understand that ITiis record of Italian Fascism is of profound interest to those in all countries who- realise that Fascism is destined to ho the universal movement of .the twentieth century. The eighteenth century gave Liberalism, which began in France, to all countries; tho nineteenth century gave Socialism, which began iv Germany, to all countries; the twentieth century, in its turn, gives birth to a universal Fascism which now invades every great country in tho world. Fascism is essentially a national creed. In every country it assumes a character and a method peculiarly suited to that country. We will fight for the rebirth of Britain in our British way and by British methods. But this new revolutionary creed of dynamic achievement which has been horn of the turmoil and struggle of the modern age belongs- to mankind and shall bring to Europe a new civilisation.

The International cable news appearing In tiils issue Is published by arrangement with the .Australian Press Association and .the "Sim," "Herald," News Office. Limited,