MUSSOLINI AS OF OLD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 769, 16 September 1929, Page 9

MUSSOLINI AS OF OLD

SPIRITED SPEECH ABOUT FASCISM ATTACKERS DENOUNCED (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) ROME, Saturday. The Prime Minister, Signor Mussolini, made an important speech at the Palazzo Venetia. Dealing with the changes, made in the Cabinet, he explained that the Fascist militia, police, council and State Court of Accounts still remain under his control. “Never before have I felt more strongly the reality of Fascism, by which the State is centred in one person who is the complete master,” said Signor Mussolini. “Some ‘idolators’ call Italy’s Government a dictatorship. We acknowledge that it is a dictatorship which lies in the political, moral and intellectual force of the man who exercises it, and in the objects at which he aims. That is a fact, and it is a necessity.” Reports to the effect that the Fascist Party was suppressing itself were grotesque. The Prime Minister denounced his attackers, who accused the Fascist leaders of hishonesty. On the contrary, he said, they were deserving of all esteem. Signor Mussolini declared that Italian exiles were drowning themselves in ridicule. Often he had asked himself whether an amnesty could be granted to such a herd of sheep, afflicted with such mortifying stupidity, or to the criminals who were responsible for bombing Italian women and children.