Evening star., 1926-11-07
MUSSOLINI FACES PERIL
In MAN.OF-DESTINY ROLE
Military Force Linked With Mysticism
Declared Cause of Past Disasters.
His Intentions Praised.

! Who is that enemy? 1t is fortunate
| for Europe's peace that so far Musso-
! lini and his Fascists nave no particu-
! lar enemy in view. Ii Is difficult for
/ them 10 invent one. because both Eng
! land and France are very polite
Spain is cordial and other nations
have no cause of quarrel. Italian
mobs and press seem to fasten upon
| France as their most unpopular neigh
| Dor.
On the frontier of the French and
Italian Riviera gangs Of Fascists, eX
cited by Mussolini's escape. attacked
J some French railway workers and
, beat them with sticks because they
! did not remove their caps during the
singing Of Fascist hymns. They also
attacked the French consulate in a
| miniature battle against police re-
! serves.
! Passionate Minds lnfamed.
None of that is Mussolini's fault,
! except that his words int1ame pas
! sionate minds. who demand victims
and blood sacrifice in thanksgiving for
! his escape. They believe in him AS
! man Of destiny. They have made
/ kind of divinity of him. as their old
emperors were given divine honOrs.
! They have reached the point of pas
! sion where they want him to lead
| them somewhere--anywhe their
| mysterious destiny and his may not
/ be too long delayed.
| That is Mussolini's danger, and is
! Europe's danger 1t is bad when
rulers link up mysticism with bayo-
nets. 1t is highly dangerous when a
nation Of Latin blood demands an
enemy which it may insult and at
tack with a sense of spiritual guild.
anCe.
Foreign offices of Europe are not
willing TO provide Italy with reason
able excuse for putting her destiny to
the test. Sir Austen Cha amberlain on
behalf Of Great Britain. has lately
shown great friendliness toward Mus.
solini. and agreed upon certain
spheres of influence in Abyssinia
about which .tbNssinians have not ha d
/ much to say on their own behalf. 1t
is generally believed the British fleet
will cooperate with Italy in keeping
! Turkey quiet and respectful.
Gossip About Mandate.
France also is willing to talk busl-
ness with Italy regarding North At
RIGA. and there are strange rumors
being whispered in the political lob
bies that France is prepared to ex-
, change her mandate in Syria with
Italy in return for full acknowledge
ment of French dominion over Tu-
nisia. That probably is nothing more
than converse tional exercise to ex-
plore F'ranco-Italian relations What
is certain is France is profoundly anX-
iouS ~ avoid any political quarrel on
controversy which might kindle Ital.
, ian passion beyond even Mussoini's
power of control.
MuSSOlini once told a friend of mine
! that he had forged weapon from
Fascismo which one day might leap
out of his hand. II is one of the mar
rels of the universe that he has kept
II so long in his grip. obedient TO his
! touch. My own belief is that Musso-
/ llnl does not want to set that forest
or baNonetS iii motion. lie is satisfied
with their glitter and menace. and
wishes TO fulfil his destiny by bluff
rather than by bloodshed.
With all his mysticism he has a
| touch of Machiavelli. and with all his
pubic oratory. so highly colored and
lntlammatory. - has a private sense
OF humor | iEve great admiration
tor his personal qualities. which make
him worthy Of his high position He
is no charlatan posing behind false
mask. He has real strength and
greatness of vision. But his influence
in Europe is sinister. because he en-
courages the idth OF military dictator.
ship among nations who are impa tient
Of democracy. and proclaims military
and naval force as the best method
Of argument in international affairs
| That is the way back to fields of
blood. 1t is the way forward to an
other Armageddon.
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