THE MURDERED DEPUTY

Southland Times, Issue 19280, 26 June 1924, Page 5

THE MURDERED DEPUTY

DISCUSSION IN SENATE STATEMENT BY SIGNOR MUSSOLINI. ’• GOVERNMENT WILL STAND FAST. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Reuter’s Telegrams.) ROME, June 24. In the Senate, the President, Signor Tittoni, expressed indignation at the murder of Signor Matteotti and repugnance at the motives of self-interest surrounding the crime. The Senate decided that the full penalty shock! fall on those responsible. Signor Mussolini reiterated his extreme regret and horror at the crime, and declared that the Fascisti were among the first to condemn it. Justice would be meted out, irrespective of the persons concerned. The Government would stand fast, but this did not mean that it might not be reconstructed in order to enable it better to achieve national pacification. There was no question of his clinging to office, but he would regard himself as one of the ntost cowardly of men if he shirked his moral and political responsibilities at a difficult moment. He refused to agree to a dissolution. Fascism had certainly received a blow, but had already profited, and would continue to profit from it in getting rid of the bad elements. Fascism would refuse to bow before a storm of reproach. The incidents at Bologna were indicative of the moral political tension, which had reached the maximum, particularly in North and Central Italy, where Fascism is not strongly represented. Everything must be done to prevent the situation becoming worse.