Evening star., 1926-01-24
MUSS0L|N| WORK
LAUDED BY KAHN
Oictator's Personal Great
lsess Has Saved Cecaying
Italy. Banker Asserts.
Srs'aal Dispatch to The star.

srs'sal Dispatch to The star
NsIW YORk. January 23.-Otto II.
Kahn, head Of the hankin@ firm "f
KUN. Loeb & Co. which has e>-
tensfve interna tional connections,
-a-un out strongly in defense "f
"venier Mussolini IT A luncheon Of
-I~ Foreign Policy Association in IN $
t;otel -.stor today and declared
Mn. solini has substituted efficient
energetic and progressive processes
- government for parliamentary
wrangling and wasteful, impotent
lre2ucr2cy.
The topic of discussion was "Fas-
e.s,--- Ite International Implications.
and in addition to Mr.. Kahn. Prot.
William Y. Elliott of Harvard Uni
versity and Count Thaon dr. 2eVel.
president of the Fascist League of
North America. spoke of various
aspects of the movement. James G..
Mcdonald presided and among those
al the speakers table were Boris y.
Bakhmeteff former Russian Ambas
.ador to this country. Mr.. and Mrs.
Thomas W. Lamont. Baroness
Machlori, Countess di Rnbillant. Col.
Walter c. Allen and Malcolm Davis.
1T is entirely possible for a man
social tendencies and to liberal con
ceptions, as l hope ! do. declared
Mr.. Kahn, and Vet admire Musso-
lini, as l certainly do
Order in Italy Vital.
In formulating judgment on Fas-
cismo two things should he KEPT in
mind. First, it so happens that italy
is inhabited by Italians and not by
Americans or Britishers. and that
what applies and appeals 10 us need
not necessarily apply and appeal To
them. Secondly. in the case of every
people. more essential even than iih-
erty, and therefore taking precedence
over it, is order and national self pres
ervation. Indeed. true liberty is i'm
possible unless there is order and an
adequately funCtioning government.
In the case of Italy. in The wears
immediately following the war. sit
uation developed which came close 10
social chaos. Government was i'm
potent, held in contempt and openly
defied. The public service functioned
internationally only, being sCornful of
discipline and frequently interrupted
by strikes. Labor disturbances on a
vast scale, accompanied by constant
violence, beset industry. Religion was
derided as a harmful and antiquated
superstition. :
uniform were insulted with impunity.
Patriotism, duty to and faith in the
country, were Jeered at as outworn
conventions. Glass was arrayed
against class in bitter animosjty.
Change Miraculous.
ITO any one who knew Italy then,
the change which came over the coun-
try with the advent of Mussolini is
IL Of
Mussolini. Mr. Kahn declared, is
neither d demagogue nor a reaction
airy. He would turn against capital
lists just as vigorously as he turned
against radical destructionists. he
said. if capital were TO fail in its ma
tional duty or attempt to make the
government subservient 10 its own
interests.
He is neither chauvinist nor i.
bull in the China shop of Europe" I"
Mr.. Kahn declared. He is a patriotic
realist." l am convinced that Musso-
Hni is no passing phenomenon but
that the spirit which long must have
been latent among the Italian people
and which he has modified and called
into action has roots so deep in the
national consciousness and aspira tons
and especially is so ardent in the
minds and souls Of the youth of the
there to guide and express it. it would
still assert itself and come TO fruition.
Sees Patriotic Revolt.
The Fascista movement was pa
triotic revolution. a revolution not for
reaction, not against liberalism, but
against governmental inefficiency and
corruption, social disinte grafton and
national decay.
"Mussollni found a people whose
past had been glorious faltering and
failing under the weight of the
present. Single handed, equipped
with nothing but the genius of his
brain. the force of his character and
the ardor of his patriotism, he flung
himself against that sinister portent
upon the high road TO national
achievement. That is q towering feat
and being as ! freely profess myself
Its manifestations. I bow in homage
before the solitary figure who en-
connpassed it.
Mr. Elliott declared facism could
never gain a foothold here because of
our wealth and the fact that we
are not parlamentarian and the
President Is our strong man" tTe
declared that fascfsm in order to hold
It's position and consolidate the new
regime in Italy must constitutional.
lze Itself in order TO command the
loyalty of all its citizens Otherwise
he predicted that with the "a ssing Of
as torn as Mexico after the retire
ment of Diaz'