New-York tribune., 1922-11-26
Speakers Here
Mussolini,
Hail ascisti
Foreign Policy Association
Addresses Refer to Gov
ernment as Intelligent,
Coherent I'D G m racy
Countess RobiIant Talks
James C.. Mcdonald Hopes
Clemenceau Visit Will
DO MoreHarnlThan Good

Speakers at luncheon of the Foreign
Policy Association at the Hotel Astor
yesterday voiced praise of Premier Mus
solini and commented at length upon
his spectacular rise to power in Italy
and upon the achievements Of the
Fascist. The Fascist form of govern
ment was referred to as "an intelligent
and coherent democracy attained by
insurrection, as worked out by the ap-
plication Of theories which Mussolini
holds"
The visit of Clemenceau to this coun-
try also was spoken of.
The principal speakers were Coun-
tess Irene di Robilant. of the Italy
America Society; DR.. Arthur Living
ston, formerly professor of italian at
Columbia University, and James G.
Mcdonald, chairman of the executive
committee of the association. Countess
Robilant and DR.. Livingston both de-
voted themselves to discussion of
Mussolini and the Fascist. Mr.. Nc
Donald spoke on the visit of Glenn
enceau.
He said that he was still hopeful
that the visit of the Tiger, would "do
more harm than good while he is in
WIS StohStJs ~ 40 AS
said, "that he has built up a bogey
about Germany armed to the teeth, q
theory that is absurd, for it does not
square with the statements Of the
Inter-Allied Commission, who have
said that the only guns they have
found in Germany were for shooting
game and the only powder for blasting
purposes"
Countess Robilant, VINO served in the
ambulance service of the Italian army
for four years and who recently re-
turned from Italy, gave q detailed &C
count of the formation of the Fascist
and Of the part played by Mussolini
in leading this new party 10 victory.
The Fascist were born, the countess
said, to stem the rising tide of Com
munism in Italy. Mussolini, she de-
clared, saw the salvation of italy in
the nations youth and organized them
under the emblem Of the black shirt
cialist. Mussolini came into power
legally, said the speaker. She praised
his fearlessness in not catering to the
public but in frankly telling the peo-
pie that under the Fascist rule they
must expect higher taxes and unem-
ployment until Italy's political and
economic house was set in order.
DR.. Livingston described the Fascist
form of government as an Intelligent
and coherent democracy attained by
insurrection, as worked out by the ap-
plication of theories which Mussolini
holds" These theories, the speaker
said, the present Italian Premier ac-
quired from Professor Wilfred Parato,
of Switzerland, whom he described as
the greatest political critic living in
Europe"
"In his book on Democracy in the
Process of Transformations DR.. Liv-
ingston continued, professor Parato
holds that democracy Is a sham, and
that despotism is sham, and that all
governments are the assertion Of an
oligarchy, and rule only by the means
of technique. Mussolini, converted to
this theory, put it into effect in Italy,
and through the Fascist is asserting
the right of an oligarchy to govern"
Giovanni Costa, professor at Vassar,
said new Italy would arise in Musso-
lini and the Fascist. Mussolini he
said, was opposed to the "one-sided
way things had been carried out after
the war"