Fascists Cheer Duce’s Plan to Increase Arms

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6815, 19 January 1929, Page 10

Fascists Cheer Duce’s Plan to Increase Arms

Signor Mussolini Sees Little Practical Value In Peace Pacts. MEMORABLE SCENES AS CHAMBER CLOSES. Coming' 100 Per Cent. Fascist Parliament Looks to Expansion by Land and Sea. ROME, Dec. 10. Amid scenes of enthusiasm such as have rarely been witnessed before, the Italian Chamber of Deputies, elected in April, 1923, held on December 8 its last sitting, approving by an overwhelming majority bills giving constitutional status to the Fascist Grand Council, as well as bills for workers’ pensions and a labour charter. About 350 Fascist deputies, wearing black shirts, occupied the benches, while a bouquet of red roses was laid on the desk before the Premier’s seat under the Speaker’s chair. When Signor Mussolini, who also wore a black shirt, entered the House, the deputies sprang to their feet, applauding vociferously, singing the Fascist h ymn, “Giovmezza, ” while spectators from the galleries joined the applause, paying homage to tho Duce. After the approval of the bills, Augusto Turati, secretary of the Fascist Party, offered Signor Mussolini an illuminated, parchment volume with the signatures of tho deputies. Then Signor Mussolini Tose to deliver his valedictory address to the Chamber, announcing at the same time that Italy would shortly increase her armaments all rou'nd.

Ordered Changes in Bill

The Duco began by expressing his thanks to the deputies for having dono their duty toward the revolution. The Twenty-Seventh Legislature of Italy, which was coming to an end on that day, had rendered a most useful work to the Nation by approving laws creating. the new Fascist state. Signor Mussolini called attention to the changes between the original text of the Grand Council and tho text submitted to their approval, adding that these changes, “willed by me, do not alter the law, but perfect it inasmuch as they have removed from tho Grand Council the character of eternity and immutability, and all things which recall the Chinese mandarinate and are absolutely, inconceivable in the theory and practice of Fascism.” Concerning the character of the new Chamber, which will be elected next March in accordance with the- terms of the new electoral law, Signor Mussolini declared that tho forthcoming elections will have nothing in common with the elections of other times and other countries. “The so-called electoral campaign, characterised by polychrome mural posters, which intelligent citizens never read, we shall never see again in Italy. Similarly all manoeuvres for the designation of candidates for Parliament will disappear. You must bo convinced that certain categories of persons will not enter the Chamber, Above all, the vociferous creators and distributors of malicious rumours; those having a tendency toward profiteering; those who have courage up to 11.45, but lose it during that brief period between 11.45 and noon, will be excluded.”

100 Per Cent. Fascist. The next Parliament will be 100 per cent. Fascist, all its members being chosen among those rogularly enrolled in the Fascist Party. The Chamber of to-morrow will be free to discuss the work of government, with tho definite understanding, however, that discussion be not directed toward overthrowing the Government, but toward criticism and collaboration. Moreover, the next Chamber will bo the organ through which will be effected collaboration in the legislative field between representatives of the Nation and tho Government. , Turning to foreign affairs. Signor Mussolini declared: “We are all for

peace. We signed the Kellogg Pact. I have defined it as sublime. This is so in reality, so sublime indeed that it might even be called transcendental (this remark was greeted with ironical laughter), and if to-morrow other pacts were in view, we shall hasten to sign them. We absolutely do not want it said that the world would bo swimming in milk and honey, that we men would become brothers, that this planet which we inhabit would bo a paradise, but that , all this beautiful feast had been spoiled by Fascist imperialism.

To Increase Armaments. “However, above, below and alongr side these pacts there is the reality which we cannot ignore if we do not wish to commit a crime against the Nation. And that reality is this, gentlemen; the whole world is arming. Newspapers report every day tho launching of submarines,'cruisers and other pacific engines of war. You have certainly followed the recent debates of other parliaments, which show that tho number of guns and bayonets is increasing. We must haye no illusions about the general political state of Europe. The nearer the storm approaches, tho more talk there. is of peace and quiet. We do not wish to disturb the European equilibrium, but we must bo ready. “Nobody in this House, therefore, will be surprised, nobody in the" Nation must be astonished, if, after completing the close of our period of convalescence, I shall call for additional efforts in order to bring to perfection the forces of land and sea and air.” These words received tremendous applause, which lasted several minutes. Italy s foreign policy, proceeded Signor Mussolini, is pacific, but the iperidd of extravagances had come to an end. Wo are very prudent before giving our friendship to anyone, but when such friendships are formed, let it be known, that we hold this friendship, or-its reverse, through thick and f’him'”' l~v? Concluding his long speech,-the Duco expressed a hope that he might'live long enough to see his 'work fully accomplished “Sometimes, when T chance to think sufficiently of the strange vicissitudes of my life, I offer a prayer to tho Almighty that he may be pleased not to bring my days to an end before my eyes have seen the new and more glorious greatness on'.land and seas of Fascist Italy.”