Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-02
FASCIST REGIME IS DOOMED,
LAWRENCE HINTS; ITALY TENSE
MussoIini Taking Too Many
Privileges From People,
Washington Scored for
Siding in the Issue
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Especial cable TO The JUurnal.)
IEnn,ri NM 1AD2

Especial cable TO The Journal)
Copyright, 1921
ROME, July 31.-SuppOsing Wall
street and the country's business IN
terests, suddenly impatient with the
farm bloc or labor group in cor
gress, should line up with the Ame'-
lean Legion and the ku Klux Khan
and, utterly disregarding the exist,
ing military and civil authority,
should march on Washington 30a,-
900 strong, should intimidate con,
gress into obedience and force the
resignation of the chief executive,
substituting q military Dictator.
This imaginary picture gives an
idea Of the happenings in Italy
during the last eight months, for
Mussolinf's government of reVOlu'
tionary dictatorship is popular be
cause it is feared, and it is approved
enthusiastically by the business III
terests because it saved the coun-
try from q worse fate-Bolshevis
But is it legal? Even its defend
ers admit the doIbtfulness of the
proposition, saying the end justifies
the means.
Diplomatic Questions
Surprising further that the Demo
Gratis or the Republicans in the
United states should win an election
and the Italian ambassador should
make a speech at banquet saying
what q great thing the victory is
for America as a result of the cleo
ton; ana supposing the winning
party should achieve a triumph ike
the Italian Fascist, would the
Italian envoy be permitted to re-
main in the United States? Wo1id
he not be recalled?
These questions suggested them
selves 10 the writer after an investi-
CATION here. For the Fascist move
ment has the whole hearted approval
of the United States government.
The ambassador here recently made
sensational speech at an official
banquet, which Fascist leaders later
described as a better exposition of
Fascist principles than they them
selves could have made.
The American Ambassador Childs
said in a prepared speech
During sthe last eight months
Italy has made an extraordinary con-
trbutIon to the whole world, rails
ing the ideals of human courage,
discipline, and responsibility. l would
be Unfaithful to my beliefs and to
those of hosts of Americans if [
failed to acknowledge the part play
ed by Premier Mussolini with the
Italian people, giving all mankind
an example Of courageous national
organization founded upon the dis
ciplined responsibility of the indi-
Vidual to the state, upon the aban-
dOnment of false hopes in feeble doc
trines and upon the appeal to he
full vigorous strength Of the human
spirit"
Foreign Policy Ignored
The Harding administration is IN
willing to join the International or
ganization abroad for fear of get
ting mixed up in European affairs,
yet in Italy's case the Washington
government did not hesitte to take
sides between parties in Italy. The
Italians, perhaps, are getting used
to intervention, for former President
Wilson issued the equivalent to an
appeal to the Italian people during
the Paris peace conference.
The Harding administration has
gone further than Wilson now. for
in giving direct approval of the Fas-
cisti movement which grew up from
military force and revolution. The
Washington government plaza it
self on record indirectly as approx
ing the overthrow of established GOV
ernments by military means, some
thing which in Datin-America at
least was discouraged as far as pos
siLie by the preceding Washington
administration.
Surprising the Fascist movement
ic nj toIY hIy Il,
eral and less reactionary elements,
wouLl Amer.ca be held in as hgI
repute then for having taken sides
| in an internal question? Already
the Italian liberal press is criticiz-
! ing America for partisanship IN ltrl-
! ian internal affairs.
TensenesS Growing
These considerations are by far
! the most important of those Strik-
! ing the investigator reacd:nr italy.
| There is a tension in the atmosphere
which is not escapable. Ora lualiy
! some essentials of Democratic gov
errment are being taken from the
Ieople by the oligarchy, headed Ly
the aggressive Mussolini.
For instance, there is strict cen
sorship of all dispatches sent from
lta,y by cable or wireless. Core
spondents frequently have rGmel'OlS
! sentences taken out of heir dis
/ ratches.
. The news censorship nc only is
I evidence of absolutism, but as we'll
q fear for the outside wOrld 10 learn
the truth. The Mussolin govern
ment is considering law abou- &c
be jammed through parlianl ant. TAX
ing away the freedom of government
criticism. The measure Is aimed at
Senator Albertini, the owner Cf Cor
riere Della Sera, published at Milan
among the best of the newspapers
published in Europe, certainly the
best in Italy. Albertini dared 10
criticize the government, therefore a
bill is pending permitting the local
police to sue newspapers and throw
legal restrictions upon them when
ever articles apparently reflect upon
indefinable things such as national
Honor" and national Defense
i Mussolini promised to call a gen
eral election, but postponed It for d
year. Some critics say he is MOI
so much afraid of defeat as of nav
ing too many Fascisto elected Il
parliament, which might mean :
division in his own ranks TO-DAY
Y1,ionrit,. ri -