MUSSOLINI’S PRONOUNCEMENT

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 9 October 1925, Page 8

MUSSOLINI’S PRONOUNCEMENT

LIBERTY DOES NOT EXIST. CAESAR, IS HIS IDEAL. LONDON, Aug., 13. “J maintain there- can be- no such thing as liberty, Benito Mussolini, the Italian Premier, is asserted "to have said to a- correspondent! of the Daily Express in Rome. “Liberty exists only iu the imagination, of philosophers who seek their, unpractical philosophy from the sky. My philosophy is drawn from very near the earth for those of the earth.” Asked whether he. was content with tlie fruits of liis philosophy as iliaterialised in Fascism, Mussolini replied: “Fully content. Fully content with Fascism —with its results, with its future, prqmis.es.” , . • ’ Following'out’ liis idea that liberty is impossible,, the Premier wentl on: - “Civilisation, is the, inversion of personal liberty. In the long run it resolves itself into a matter of space, more space, more liberty, and those who would, benefit from the advantages of civilisation must necessarily pay; in the coin of personal freedom.”

“ Mass cannot govern mass; quantity cannot govern ’’ Mussolini added. -Noticing a bust of Julius Ceasar over the, Premier’s, desk, the interviewer asked him wliv lie, worked all the time with Caesar peeping over liis shoulder. Mussolini’s face; says the writer,, took on an inspired expression, and l liis voice sounded 1 strangely moved as l he replied: “He, is my ideal, my master. Julius Caesar is the greatest man that ever lived.”

Talking of the prospects of Europe, Mussolini said:

“Europe has an enormous reserve of vitality. There is nothing decadent about the old continent. Many centuries must elapse before there will' be even a possibility of any deterioration in her strength or morale. Europe has nothing to fear in spite of what certain alarmists try to propagate. Besides, if Europe were in a state of decline, Italy would be the weakest of her countries, considering that she, is the most ancient. But Italy is very strong and vigorous. Nothing can stop her, advance.,”

Asked, whether he saw any danger to the white races in tlie uprising in North Africa, Mussolini replied': “None at all. Europe; is not done yet. She need have no apprenheusion.

. . . When Islam knocked at the gates of Vienna not so long ago it was in vain; and it w r ould be so, again if ever she got so far.” The Premier side-tracked tlie question about Italy’s debt with,: “Why ask me about the debt? We have shown every sign pf goodwill in taking the initiative in negotiations to pay what we are able to pay.”