The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-12-11
By Max Shachtman

QuueS putting tnom on u BOlQ OASIS WINE the IIO
steadily falling but 1t involved Italy in new
contradiction.
Italy, altho predominantly an agricultural coun.
try is unusually densey populated, and depends not
only for its coal and other minerals, but for some
of the most elementary food products, upon impor-
tation To solve it's budget crisis it increases its
tariff duties. But the increase in tariff duties at
fects the price of its food imports of such living
necessities cereals, meats, ETC. The resultant
suffering for the workers can easily be imagined.
The cost of living not only rises but the wages Of
the Italian workers, which have for time beeR
practically the lowest in Europe, continue to sink
Exploitation is intensified Mussolni's recent law,
instituting the nine-hour working day, did not CON
tain a proviso for payment for the extra hour Of
labor Only the frightful and repressive conse-
Quenees prevent the occurrence of hundreds Of
strikes; even then, some have taken place. The
lire continues to hover around very low point.
THERE is limit to the state Of quiescence that
can be maintained even at the point of fascist
bayonet With the bitter years of Mussoni's rule
in mind the masses of the workers reaching the
point of desperation and revolt The ehakincss OF
Mussolinis position is indicated everywhere. At
tempts to assassinae chiefs of government often
barometer Of unrest; four attempts have been
made Mussolini's life in the period of a year.
IN the ranks or MS own party tnere is a power
full movement of division and discord. Repeated
fractional struggles among the fascist not the
smallest of Mussolnis worries The dissidents have
reached such point of power and effect that Mus
solini was forced to withdraw his previous auto
cratic DEGREES and permit certain amount of democ-
racy and electoral rights within the fascist party
The fiction of Mussolins universal popularity has
been additionally demolished by the persistent
ports of nstrations-isolated and spontaneous
but demonstrations nevertheless-of members of the
fascist party bearing placards upon which Mussolni
is denounced These are not to put it very con-
servatively signs of stability.
Like France, Italy is not faring SO we'll in the
field Of foreign affairs Her alliance with England is
neither firm not eternal Brittania has never been
distinguished for her loyalty to the allies of the
moment before if the allies of the later offer
ed better opportunities There doubt but that in
the negotiations which being conducted be-
tween BRAND and Chamberlain, France will propose
a condition for forsakng her rapprochement to-
wards Germany-upon which England looks with
alarm-the withdrawal of British support form
Italy's imperalist ambitions-which is not looked
upon with any too much happiness by France. The
uncovering of the Garibadi-Rapolla scandal and the
intrigues of Mussolinis agents to discredt France
in Spain in connection with the Catalonian indie
pendence movement, have not served to increase
fascist stock with The French
THE blow to Mussolini a consequence of the
overthrow of Pangalos in Greece is too well
known to need repetition. The fascist rulers other
adventures in the Balkans have not strengthened
his hand either. 1t took only the report of the
treaty arranged between Italy and Albania to call
forth strong denunciaton of Mussolinis skirmshes
in the Adriatic from number of the Jugo-Slavian
leaders Raditch and Ninchitch both have intimated
their determination to resist Mussolini's encroach-
ments upon JugoSlavia's interests by the establish
ment of Italian protectorate over Albania
The Turks, too do not appear easy prize as
the lord of the Chighi palace originally presumed
Renal Pasha has shown unusual belligerency in
defying Ialys attempts at aggression in Asia Minor
When the threat of invasion imminent the An
CORA leader did not hesitate for a to mobiles
a number Of army corps to meet the fascist troops;
but if Kemal did not hesitate Mussolini did.
II is of course, impossible to predict the length