ITALY: Fascismo Trionfante

A laurel wreath and a bouquet of roses were placed by a Fascist usher on the desk of Signor Mussolini as the Italian Chamber assembled last week in extraordinary session. The galleries and boxes twittered and sparkled with the elect of Rome, Fascist patricians who had come to cheer Il Duce as he put through the Chamber his Defense Decrees (TIME, Nov. 15) punishing with death attempts upon his life, and virtually abrogating civil liberty in Italy.

Twelve. Who dares oppose Il Duce in the Chamber? It is well known that the 124 Deputies of the Aventine Opposition have not returned since they were clawed, kicked and dragged out by the hair and beard upon their last appearance (TIME, Jan. 25). Is there not some faction of such insignificance that its opposition is tolerated for decorative effect? There is. Giovanni Giolitti, five times Premier, and his twelve “independents” who boast that their votes are cast according to the merits of every question, are tolerated by the 384 Fascists who virtually make up the Chamber. Last week, as the bill presented was of vital import Communist Deputy Costantino Lazzari tried to fight his way into the Chamber armed with an umbrella which he wielded vigorously. Strong Fascist arms expelled him. . . .

Tableau. A roar of cheering and shouted snatches of Fascist songs greeted Premier Mussolini as he entered. Ramrod-backed he deigned to nod, to smile. Then his right hand upraised commanded silence. … A wrist watch might have been heard to tick. . . . Grasping the laurel with one hand and the roses with the other, Il Duce sat down at his desk, stared straight before him, his gaze piercing and immovable. . . . When Il Duce’s dramatic silence had begun to seem permanent, the President of the Chamber, Signor Casertano, at length plucked up courage to open the session, not with a formal speech but by shouting: “Long live Mussolini today! Long live Mussolini always!”

Expulsion. While the Premier still sat motionless, Secretary General Turati of the Fascist Party leaped to his feet and rattled off a bill permanently unseating the Aventine Opposition and the Communists, who were, of course, not present.

As the Deputies filed past the rostrum depositing their ballots they chanted a Fascist song: “Youth!! Youth!! Springtime of Beauty. . . .” The bill passed 293 to 10. As the vote was announced

Premier Mussolini nodded silent approval. Later he ordered the expelled Deputies arrested. Fascist police bagged 17, hunted vainly last week for the rest.

Decrees. Minister of Justice Rocco next arose to present the Defense Decrees. From these had been stricken the celebrated clause defying international law by providing that the Italian courts should sentence to imprisonment foreigners who spoke or wrote ill of Italy even in their own countries. As introduced last week this clause provided punishment for foreigners committing such crime only when they are in Italy. . . .

The bill having been introduced there was no debate. The judicial committee retired to an anteroom and inspected the bill for 45 minutes. While they were gone Signor Mussolini relaxed, chatted with his Ministers, smiled and nodded as the Deputies and gallery roared plaudits. When the Committee returned and reported favorably on the bill Premier Mussolini stalked to the ballot box. “FOR FASCISM!” he cried, and cast his vote. Three hundred and forty-one Fascists voted with him. The Giolittists cast against him twelve innocuous and well stage-managed votes. It is significant that one-time Premier Giolitti had the reputation in his palmiest days of being notably corrupt and was once impeached for abuse of power (1893). The political supremacy of Fascismo is complete. . . .

Violent Developments. Though the Senate has yet to ratify the bills passed by the Chamber last week, the Deputies had hardly ceased to vote when Fascist police and soldiers swooped down upon all known gathering places of antiFascists, ejected and in many cases arrested persons found there, and padlocked the buildings in accordance with the not yet legalized decree suppressing anti-Fascist gatherings of every sort. Followed swiftly an order by Secretary General Turati that all Italians and foreigners must salute the Fascist banner whenever and wherever it is displayed. The Secretary, a feverish zealot, also began a tour of Italy to examine Fascists suspected of disloyalty to the party and eject them from it. Until this is complete no new members wil be received into Fascismo.

Compulsory Cinema Religion. Signor Mussolini founded during the week, with the support of the Holy See, the Institute of Religious Art and Education. The Institute will occupy itself at once with the production of motion pictures illustrating the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Lest these films prove unpopular, Il Duce decreed last week the obligatory showing of one such Roman Catholic film drama as a part of every motion picture program released in Italy after the new religious films are ready.

Rail Congestion. So drastic are the new passport regulations affecting persons entering or leaving Italy that last week many of the trains crossing the Italian frontier were almost empty. Returning travelers told of standing in line for hours while Italian passport and customs inspectors pored over papers and luggage which they usually pass with a perfunctory inspection or a paternal nod.