ITALY

Evening Star, Issue 18334, 23 July 1923, Page 9

ITALY

THE HEW ELECTORAL LAW.

PASSED BY CHAMBER.

Press Association —By Telegraph Copyright

ROME, July 21. ■ The Chamber passed the new electoral law by 223 votes to 123. A. and N.Z. Cable. r [The main points in Signor Miissolim s new electoral law arc that it divides the Kingdom into twenty electoral divisions, which will select 533 deputies. Candidates shall bo represented m one Nationalist list, and no list shall bo recognised unless there arc one-third ot the number of possible candidates in any division. Lists are only voted on A they arc presented by 1.500 voters in each division. The list that secures an absolute National majority of votes will be divided by 535, and so many seats assigned as correspond with each quotient.j

Discussing the political situation in Italy carlv in May, the Romo coirespondent, of "the ‘Morning Post ’ wrote: Signor Mussolini has now been just over sis months in office. He is now at the zenith of his fame; no Italian Minister has ever wielded such authority. But the remarkable movement of which ho is the leader, and almost the only statesman, has now reached, as one of its leading Roman expositors has stated, a critical stage in its career. The problem before is to transform itself with the least possioie friction from a militant, attacking force into a conservative, constructive organisation. Human nature being what it is. the men who shone most in the militant capacity are not necessarily those who would "be the best adrainistraotrs. To select new men, tardy recruits to Fascismo, for the task of governing is a problem requiring great tact. _To_ purge Fascismo of all sorts and descriptions of persons who have rushed into its ranks since it became victorious is a scarcely less difficult business. Yet these are the questions now facing the Premier. Signor Mussolini has shown in these six months far greater moderation than was expected. His main difficulty seems likely to be neither with the Socialists and Communists—for they are crushed—nor with the Liberals—for they are disorganised—but with his own Hotspurs, who, having made one bloodless revolution, now talk .about another without the adjective. This ia doubtless the reason why in the new organisation of the Fascismo, adopted by the Fascista Grand Council, its leaders are categorically forbidden to express opinions in speech or writing involving the Government or party without previously obtaining the consent of Signor Mussolini, Several curious incidents have led to this disciplinary act, imposing silence upon the young Hons of the movement. Some time ago the public was treated to the spectacle of one Fascista Under-Secretary indulging in a newspaper polcqyc with another Fascista Under-Secretary, which the Premier had to settle. That was about pensions for wounded or invalided soldiers. The other day another Fascista _ Under-Secretary made a speech at Turin, which caused profound astonishment in circles quite other than Socialist. He is reported as having said*. “Wo, and I before all the rest.'"will know how to take up anus again for the purpose of cleaning up things at homo if it were necessary. All are afraid. It is enough to appear with the black cap and the black shirt, and everywhere yon will see backs bent, knees on the ground, and hands raised on high in act of surrender. If it be necessary, and I believe that it certainly will be

wo shall hnow how to create half an hour of tho state of siege and a minute of firing. That, I think, will suffice.”

Now, the Italians are. a people endowed with an enormous amount of courage, besides having a. very large supply of amo«f propre. Consequently this representation of their attitude as one of cringing fear before superior force cannot he expected to please them. Hence, doubtless, the bridle placed by that expert horseman. Signor Mussolini, on his too ardent steed, just ns ho rebuked another of his adherents for an indiscreet remark about. Tstria. This is not, absolutism, for herein tho Fascista Premier is following strictly constitutional practice.