Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-31


Benito -MusSolini has done. but
4 here is his own story Of how
and why he has done it.
1t was not learned in single in
terview with a preconceived world
figure. but gathered bit by bit from
the day, five years ago. when chance
brought me to Il dinGy little news
paper office in Milan and to an I'M
known MusSolini.
1t came about through the casual
offer of some cigarettes to some
homesick Italian soldiers at the from
tier.
D'AnnunZio had just taken Plume,
and they were Slleptical and diSCour-
aging when / asked them what they
thought of my chances to pass the
blockade and interview him there.
But just as the train was pulling
out one of the boys called after us,
"Trv the Popolo d'Italia."
| had no idea then what the Popolo
dItalia might he. but found il was
the newspaper located in that dlnSy
office in Aiil2n
They toll me the editor was out,
hut would be back at midnight. And
i WAS there at midnight that saw
for the first time the square figure
with the square. pale face and the
May eyes-for the editors name
Was Benito MuSSollnl.
lie seemed then: as he always has,
to he made of steel and stone. ANA he
was no less impressive, no less au-
thoritative, no less direct as an OBJ
s,.ure newspaper man than he Is with
all the glamour of his position today
with the same leaShed lightning III
his ewes. the same leashed thunder
IN his voice.
For a solid hour he hurled queS-
lions at me in Italian. brushing my
credentials aside. And as L soon
found out that he was d'Annunzlo $
great stronghold in the Italian press.
the letters he gave me the next day
meant everything to me in F1ume-
came back to Milan to thank
him but he was impatient with mere
words. Instead he offered me the
use of his own editorial columns the
next day if | knew what | wanted TO
say and could say it.
Soon after the article appeared l
returned to America. convinced that
somehow, some day. Benito Mussolini
would Startle the world
But no one could have guessed how
soon and how much. for within two
wears, at 80. this blacksmith's son
had become the most powerful per
sonality III Europe, with the destiny
of Italy in his hands and an army of
his own making-an army OF young
men sponta neously drawn to him by
his dynamic sincerity and his deter
mnation to save Italy from Bolshev-
ism-behind him to the death.
X !: = x
LIE could have been easily a new
L L Napoleon. The physical likeness
that is so often remarked might have
had a historic parallel as well. except
that he had not conquered for him.
self-he had not fought to overthrow
but TO build up.
SO he, rabid Socialist of a few years
before. turned his bloodless but ire
sistibe revolution in favor of the
King, enlisted his Fascist in the
regular army and settled down as
Prime Minister to remake Italy.
When I returned to Rome the
world was ringing with his name and
he had become the most inaccessible
man in Europe, surrounded by cor
don of soldiers and secretaries, not
so much for physical protection-for
he is reckleSsly fearleSS-but so he
can continue to work, often 20 hours
a day, undisturbed.
7 soon found that the farfamed
leader of Fascismo and the unknown
editor were merely two different
phases of the same Mussolini and
that his personality obliterateS the
great, dim, beautiful room. full Of
priceless works of art, that he has
made his private sanctum at the Chigi
Palace, now the foreign office i'll
Rome, just. as completely as it did
the bare little office in Milan.
Now he sits behind a huge. fiat
desk near the window in the farthest
corner of the room, and many big
men have told me that that long
walk across the great, silent room
under the steady glare of his steely
eyes was one of the worst moments
of their lives-unless, perhaps, to
have to stand up facing him through
the raDid-fire croSS-queStioning that
follows is even worse. for only on
very gracious occasions two great
tapestry armchairs are placed oppo-
site him.
But it is impossible to meet his
searching. fearless eyes or hear his
quiet. intense voice and doubt his
sincerity. which seems all the more
sincere because he is rarely vehe-
ment or dramatic. 1t is only when
he is really stirred or angry that the
pent-up power escapes.
And only those who have won his
friendship and who know that be-
personal charm that comes from a
really spontaneous simplicity and a
very human sense of humor can UNI
derstand how the same man can be
consistently grim and uncompromis-
ing to a cheering crowd, Suave and
subtle at d council table, reckless and
daring with his soldiers, or racing his
car over the mountains at night. and,
natural and lovabie, quick to laugh
ter and enthusiasm with the people
he likes.
:: !; :: =
THIS. then. is Benito Mussolini.
And here is his story: He told
me that he cannot remember the time
nate destiny. Destiny" as an alb
lie has merely taken each episode of
his life as it came. judged it accord
ing to the truth as he saw it, made a
decision affecting only the issue at
hand. and gone ahead to the next
step. That is what we call changing
his mind-what he could call making
II up.
lie has dominated every one and
everything all his life. First. his sis
ter and brother. then the boys of the
village, on and on, in an ever-WideH-
ing circle. until at last he dominates
ItaIy-and his new ideas may spread.
lie saw nothing remarkable in this
power of his. but his mother, who
was the village schoolmistresS, and
from whom no doubt he learned the
foundation of his great culture. told