DISCONTENT IN ITALY

Southland Times, Issue 24548, 24 September 1941, Page 5

DISCONTENT IN ITALY

PARTY LEADERS MAY BE DISMISSED PEOPLE LOATHE GERMANS (Rec. 10.15 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 22. The Times says that Mussolini seems i to be preparing to dismiss some of the Fascist leaders. Articles strongly critical of the party are appearing in Italian newspapers, presumably as a prelude to changes. Signor Roberto Farinacci s newspaper Regime Fascista says: “The Fascist Party is an enormous top-heavy organization with a rigid bureaucracy. The corporative system is unable to regulate prices and deal with food supplies. The laws have not been applied.” A correspondent of Popolo d Italia says: “Matters are not going well, even in the party, which contains a large group retarding progress. In precisely the Fascist ranks one finds democrats, socialists, Freemasons and liberals.” The correspondent adds that Mussolini probably wishes to make a show of meeting the discontent, both in the army and the party. Italian officers believe that Hitler has asked for more Italian troops for Russia and many officers declare that the Italian Army is depleted for the other front and is incapable of defending Italy against a frontal The malcontents in the party can be divided into, first, loyalists and rightists, and, second, leftists, states The Times. Both want to preserve a modified Fascism. Opinion throughout the country is united in a wariness of the war and loathing of the Germans. Mussolini has previously overcome similar widespread moods. He now has the additional support of the Gestapo and tens of thousands of Germanoccupying troops.