PEOPLE’S IDOL

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 December 1924, Page 5

PEOPLE’S IDOL

SUFFERS DEFEAT. CRISIS IN ITALY. MUSSOLINI’S POSITION. * . ■ . ; • ' The canker of Bolshevism appears to be eating into the heart of Italy, and for the first time Mussolini, the Premier; has been defeated in the Chamber. Though still the idol of the populace, Mus- * soline, who; with some comrades, founded the Fascist! movement to counteract Bolshevism, his colleagues are apparently not of the saauo calibre. The Premier’s decline semes to have dated from the murder, allegedly' by Fascists, of • the Socialist deputy, MatteottL BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. . (Received Dec. 19, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 18. The Daily Express’ Rome correspondent says that Italy is confronted with a grave crisis. Mussolini is still the idol -of the masses as the saviour of Italy from Bolshevism, but he apparently lacks the faculty of choosing ■; his subordinates. ■ For weeks Parlia- - •>' ment has been" without opposition, • as the Democrats, Catholic Party and tho , Socialists, numbering 150, fill the lobbies, hut decline to enter- the Chamber since Matteotti was murdered;

The Government accordingly readily passed the Press Bill, but the proposed legislation was too much for Senators, who for the first time voted heavily against Mussolini. The Government therefore decided to withhold the press legislation. ' Newspapers, however, continue- to demand : that the King call for the Government’s resignation, even if Mussolini is asked to form a new administration. ’