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Foreign News: Relations with Russia

3 minute read
TIME

In the Chamber of Deputies last week was enacted a most curious scene. Fascismo, notoriously anti-Bolshevik, voiced favorable comment on the Soviet Government. Bolshevism, rigidly opposed to Fascism, eulogized the Mussolini regime.

Said Mussolini: “The understanding between Italy and Russia is excellent. During the Corfu incident the Russian press was the only press of the whole world which was sympathetic toward Italy.”

And Signor Bombacci, Communist Deputy, generally acrimonious in condemning Fascism, was flattering almost to the point of obsequiousness: “Italy’s wonderful revolution and Russia’s wonderful revolution can best be crowned by an alliance between the two peoples.”

Later, the question of pride entered the discussion. Communist Deputy Lazzari declared that the Bolshevik revolution was better and superior in every way to Mussolini’s coup.

“That is not true!” shouted Mussolini.

“The fact remains,” purred Lazzari, “that things in Russia are proceeding excellently.”

“You cannot bluff Italy with .that buncombe!” roared Mussolini, lionlike.

Signor Lazzari stuck to his guns, repeated his assertion.

“I fear,” retorted the Fascist chief, “that you do not even read your own newspapers, because they don’t appear to be so certain that everything is going well in Russia.”

Finally, Premier Mussolini, who was the last to speak on the motion to conclude a commercial treaty with Soviet Russia, advocated de jure recognition: “Negotiations with Russia are progressing favorably. I will not discuss the social changes which have occurred there, as that is an internal Russian affair into which we cannot enter. But I will say that I infinitely prefer to have to discuss affairs with an Ambassador to doing so with a commercial representative, of whom one never knows whether he is more a business man or a political personality. For this reason, if for no other, I would be willing to see proper relations re-established between Italy and Russia.

“The Italian Government, therefore, has no objections to recognizing the present Russian Government de jure. We must look at the subject in the cold light of national utility. Would it be useful for Italy to recognize the Russian Government? I think it would. I, therefore, say to Russia: ‘The Italian Government recognize your power, but you in return must do even more; you must give us a good commercial treaty; you must furnish us with raw materials.’

“As soon as our differences with Yugo-Slavia have been settled we shall be free to turn our attention to the East. As soon as we have a commercial treaty with Russia the door of the Slav country will be open for us. In that direction lie the supreme interests of our country.”

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