Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-24
MENACE TO WORLD
IN FASC|SM DENIED.
Italy Must Expand or Suffo-
cate, Says Mussolinl-Tells
View of United States.
BY p. H. WINNER.
By the Associated Press.

=
pansion in no way presents Unreal
to the peace of the world.
1--WE are thirsting for power, Tor
riches and the prosperity so long de
MED u.s." the Fascist premier told the
correspondent of the Associated Press.
''but our imperialism presents no
threat to the worlds peace. Surely
the American people whose CONNER
cial and economic empire stretches
over the whole world, can understand
and sympathize with young Italy's
needs to expand culturally and eco
nomically beyond her borders.
Discussing the need for mutual I'M
derstanding between Italy and the
United States. the premier said that
the American Government reSembled
the Fascist state more than any OF
the liberal democratic governments OF
Europe.
Ttaly's Colonial Aims.
When Premier Mussolini was asked
to state the precise meaning of his
oft repeated phrase "Italy's undeni-
able colonial rights and to tell how
he intends to achieve the fruition OF
them, he declared:
Our colonial aspirations do not
constitute a menace TO any one. Italy
asks only what is indispensable to her
and what it is just that she have. It
is certain that she will obtain full
filln1ent of these desires by policy
of peace and friendly agreements.
since no nation would want to assume
the grave responsibility of obstruCting
the achievement of such legitimate
and, in reality, such uneXcessive
aspirations.
The best way for Americans to I'M
derstand Fascist Italy, the premier
said, is through comparison with
their own country. Pharmaceutical as
it may SEEM" he said, there is a dis
tinct resemblance between the devel-
opment of Italy during the last dec
ade and the United States during the
second holt of the nineteenth century.
Recalls L. 5. Civil War.
Despite the tremendous differences
in historical traditions and tempera.
ments of the two peoples. there Is
clear parallel, for example, between
your Civil War and our recent eco.
nomic civil war. The doctrine Of
States rights, prevalent before your
Civil War, carried to the extreme in
the theory that the States had the
right to Secede from the Union. re-
sembled the doctrine prevalent in
Italy, before the advent of Fascism. of
class-defense and regional autonomy.
I'm the United States it was neces-
sary to fight a frightfully destructive
war to affirm the authority OF the
Federal Government. while we We're
able, with a comparatively bloodless
struggle, to affirm the authority OF the
central statal organism.
1.-THE American Government reSem-
bles the Fascist State more than any
liberal democratic government of
Europe. Popular sovereignty is tenn
pered by strong governmental author
ity. Universal suffrage elects the gov
eminent, but cannot interfere with It's
work as is unfortunately the case in
European democracies.
Traditions Of Italy.
Your pioneering period necessarily
produced imperialism. So must ours.
The difference in type between our
imperialisms is explained by certain
fundamental differences between the
two nations and peoples. America had
a tradition of freedom. Italy has one
of enslavement TO foreigners. America
was protected by her isolation, was
overlooking with natural riches. While
Italy was poor in law and materials.
America had a vast territory, SUI
flcient for all her people, while Italyfs
surplus manpower must emlgrate.
"Yet the two nations have much IN
common Both are young, healthy
and full of self-confidence and deter
mination to possess strength ana pros
perity. Our soil is not rich, out
whatever it contains, we are deter
mined to utilize, making science nelp
the strength Of our arms. our cul'
tural heritage is among the richest IN
the world; our racial vitality is ire
mendous: our thirst for riches and
prosperity cannot be denied. We must
expand or suffocate.
tNationalism in America is no less
strong than that in Italy. In both
nations success, achievement ana
progress are sought with religious
ardor. Our religion of nationlsm Is
less material because we must depend
upon spiritual resources as much as
physical.
Need of Being Ready.
Our imperialism--lik yours-is not
q threat to world peace. Americans
should see the injustice OF accusing
MS of militarism You, safe across the
Atlantic, keep your Army, Navy and
air forces ready to resist attack and
to resent any insult TO your national
honor. We, in the midst of centuries
old hatreds and having just Won QUE
independence after generations 81
slavery, surely cannot be criticized
for protecting ourselves ana keeping
ourselves prepared.
But there is such tremendous
gulf in type, tradition and history be
tween the United States and Fascist
italy, that something more than GOOD
will is needed for mutual understand.
ing. In connection with such basic
matter as our condemnation OF
liberalism and democracy, Americans
cannot arrive at clear understanding
without knowing our yesterdays as
well as todays. Here, l am afraid, they
have had little or no adequate guild
ance. Fascism is a profoundly Italian
phenomenon, intimately connected
with our history, psychology and ira
dition and eliminating in a long com
plicated political evolution. Without
accurate knowledge of sources, with
out marginalia and footnotes, no just
analysis is possible.
Lack of Perspective.
Foreign journalists, falling to take
the true historical perspective, nave
been deluded into following erroneous
clevs. For example, they have popu-
larized the notion that the origin OF
Fascisnl can be found in the post
war period alone; that it is merely an
other of the numerous reacuonary ex-
plosions directly due to the World
war. These are ridiculous blind al
leys.
us the expression of the political
genius of our people, binding together
in ideal form the Latin state lessons
and traditions in two milleniums of
history. The war awoke our soul
from lethargy. 1t helped, but did not
cause the birth of Fascism.
ours is the first successful effort
to create italian national unity and
has already achieved the moral re-