ANTI-FASCIST PROTEST

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 August 1927, Page 10

ANTI-FASCIST PROTEST

INTERVIEW WITH ITALY’S KING (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, August 29. The “Daily Chronicle,” in a special article, received from Paris, declares: “An extraordinary interview occurred between the King of Italy and Signor Gioletti, a former Italian Premier, and it is learned from most reliable sources that Signor Gioletti and four other ex-premiers, Signori Salandra, Soleri, Orlando and Bonoini, agreed that the present situation politically and economically was most serious, and that the others charged Signor Gioletti to communicate with the King, who received him in the presence of a famous general, Badoglio.

. Signor Gioletti complained that thirty million lira was being spent annually in guarding the frontier to prevent the escape of the anti-Fascists and fifty million lira annually on political espiohage on behalf of the Fascist Militia which was financially without control. The Militia cost 158 million lira yearly to maintain, and was spending another ten million lira on the so-called special services. He said —“None of these enormous sums appears in the Ministerial Budget, and even most reasonable criticism is suppressed. There is great popular discontent and trade depression.” Signor Gioletti finally stressed it as the opinion of pre-eminent business men that the Fascist authorities were now resorting to what he'called “economic Bolshevism” in order to lessen antagonism on the part of the classes. The, Daily Chronicle says: Mis .Majesty is reported to have listened attentively and to have replied, “What yon say is very interesting. However, I warn you that I am a constitutional King. Therefore I will do nothing to alter the pi esent situation as long as even a formal Parliament exists. In addition, I must say if the party in power wishes to drive me from the throne, I shall do nothing to prevent this.”