BRITISH FASCISTS

Southland Times, Issue 19254, 27 May 1924, Page 7

BRITISH FASCISTS

“A DANGEROUS ORGANISATION.” SOLICITOR-GENERAL’S WARNING. (Sun Cable.) LONDON, May 10. The Solicitor-General, Sir H. Slesser , Leeds, said that some of the less enlightened Conservatives were calling themselves British Fascists, and wearing black shirts and badges bearing the initials “BE”. (Laughter.) A Voice: “Tell us what the initials mean.” (Renewed laughter.) The Solicitor-General continued: “The Crown Law officers are considering the position of the British Fascist!. We. are not sure that they may not develop into a highly seditious and dangerous organisation. “We cannot afford to speak flippantly of Continental reactionary movements. They are sinister things and may have a reaction in Britain.” Signor Mussolini headed a procession of thousands of people to the tomb of the Unknown .Soldier, says a message from Rome, to contribute funds to erect a monument at Florence commemorating the heroism with which Italian mothers fostered the fighting spirit of the troops while their sons were dying at the front. The British. Fascist Society was formed on the model of the Italian Fascisti, who began a revolutionary movement against the alleged inactivity of Italian statesmen after the war. The leader of the Fascisti, Signor Mussolini, is now Prime Minister of Italy, and the organisation controls the country. The Italian Fascisti wear a black shirt, and the name is derived from “fascio,” or band, in which the movement was organised. •

In Italy Fascism is devoted to the National cause, and bitterly opposed to Socialism. The British Fascists are believed to aim at maintaining order amid economic and class conflicts.