ATTACK UPON FASCISM

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1927, Page 7

ATTACK UPON FASCISM

FOUR EX-PREMIERS’ VIEWS APPEAL TO KING OF ITALY “A DESPERATE SITUATION" By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Received Aug. 30, 7 p.m. London, Aug. 30. The Daily Chronicle, in a special article from Paris, declares au extraordinary interview occurred between the King of Italy and ex-Premier Signor Giolitti. It has been learned from the most reliable sources that Signor Giolitti and four other ex-Premiers, Signors Salandra, Soleri, Orlando, and Bonomi, agreed th© present situation politically and economically was most serious, and charged Signor Giolitti to communicate with the King, who received him in the p sene© of the famous General Badoglio. Signor Giolitti complained that 30,000,000 lira was. being spent annually in guarding th© frontier to prevent the escape of anti-Fascists, aud 50,000,000 lira annually on political espionage on behalf of th© Fascist militia, which financially was without control. Th© militia cost 158,000,000 lira yearly to maintain, and was spending another 10,600.000 lira on so-called special services. "None of these enormous sums,” he said, “appears in the Ministerial Budgets. Even the most reasonable criticism is suppressed, and there is great popular discontent and trade depression.”

Signor Giolitti finally stressed the opinion of pre-eminent business men that th© Fascist authorities were resorting to economic Bolshevism in order to lessen the antagonism of the working classes.

His Majesty is reported to have listened atteptivaly and replied: “What you say is very interesting. However, I warn you I am a constitutional King and therefore will do nothing to alter the present situation as long as even a formal Parliament exists. In addition, I must say that if the party in power wishes to drive me from the Throne I shall do nothing to prevent this.”