Evening star., 1923-07-31
SAYSU.S s. FASC|STS
CURbCOMMUN|SM
MussoIini Believes They Help
Keep Italian Immigrants
Loyal to Flag.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY Cable 10 The Star.
ROME, July 31.-Premier Musso-
lini today discussed with extraor-
dinary frankAess the question of
whether the fascist organizations in
America should be encouraged or
discouraged.
In an exclusive interview with
this correspondent, the Italian premi-
er said emphatically that rather than
incur the opposition of public opin-
ion in America he would use his In
fiucnce to have abolished those fas-
cist organizations, which have sprung
up among Italian residents in the
United States. But he was not sure
it would be good thing to DO SO.
for he thinks some vfrile force should
he at Work constantly among Italian
en- grants to prevent their railing
victims to the doctrines OF COM
munists. The latter, ho believes,
have aggressive missionaries in
America.
Mussolini occupies the dual posi-
ton of premier of the Italian gov
ernment and actual head OF the
fascist uolitical party. which has
grand council somewhat like the re-
publican or democratic national COM
mittees in the United States. 1t con-
sists of about twenty-five members,
including the cabinet members.
Societies Discussed.
The fascist grand council" said
Mussolini to the writer. has just
been meeting to consider whether
the fascist organization in America
should be continued. The Italian
government believes that if any
political taint or suspicion is attach
ed to these bodies they should be
abolished. But 1 hope the American
people will understand that there is
no connection between these organi-
cations and the Italian government.
ment is represented only by her am
bassador, Prince Caetani. Indeed, the
ambassador, who now is here, attend
ed our meetings and made a speech
in opposition to the continuance of
the fascist societies. in the United
States
THE question is whether they can
assume an entirely local status aim
theories of communists who work
among the italians in America. This
is as important 10 the welfare of
America as it is to the rest of the
world"
At this point the writer inquired
whether the fascist organizations
would owe allegiance to any institu-
ton in Italy and the premier said
positively that they had arisen in
America without any, connection with
lHe Italian SONtI anu were In
tended purely as a manifestation of
sympathy with the economic doc
trines being practiced1in Italy.
II believe firmly said the pre-
mier: that the Italians in America
should first of all be obedient to the
laws of the United States and that
they should be the best behaved citi-
zens in America. 1 am pleased to
note that many Americans are be-
ginning to understand just what fas-
ri {c IN
Herewith"
The most concrete expression to ap-
proyal of fascfsm came recently from
the American ambassador. Richard
Washburn Child. and drew from Mus
solini at the time comment which is
significant and important in connec-
ton with the complimentary refer
ences to the Mussolini government by
president PRESIDE y aarding bdaIg in his St: Louis
ambassadors fulsome praise of fas-
cism, Mussolini said:
AS fascista, your excellency's
words have interested me, because
ithey reveal an exact understanding
of the phenomenon of our movement.
and thus constitute a sympathetic and
powerful vfndication of it.
This fact is so much more remark
able because the fascist movements
are so complex that the mind of a
stranger is not always best adapted
sador, constitute the most brilliant
exception to this rule. Your DIS
course, 1 dare say, contains all the
philosophy Of fascismo and fascist en-
deavor interviewer with the exalta-
| tion of strength, discipline and au-
thority, and hence, responsibility. You
have been able to show, Mr.. Ambas-
| sador. that despite the numerous diff
ficulties of the general situation, fas-
cismo has kept faith with It's prom
| ises given before the march on Rome.
The time since those promises were
made has been so short that only a
stupid person would pretend that the
! work already is completed. / limit
myself in saying, and in this I seem
I to find corroboration by your excel
! lency, that it is well begun"
! So Mussolini feels that since the
! American government, through. its
| ambassador, has spoken approvingly
| of fascismo there ought to be hence
| forth the closest possible relations
! between the United States and Italy
in combating the common foe-com-
4 muniSm