Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-14
ITALIA, Paris (published exterrito-

ITALIA, Paris lpupliSneo exCerT1eo-
rally .-We all know that the
American, Gen. 5medley Butler. in
i an address at club, pointed out
the danger of war contained IN the
evolutions Of Fascism. In discu sing
particularly Mussolini, his antecedents.
his ideas and his attitude, he related
among other things that the chief OF
the italian government, after his auto
mobile had struck q child, had said TO
an American who was with him IN the
car, and who wished him to render as
sistance 70 the victim, What matters
one human life, when affairs Of state
are In the balanced"
Mussolini and the Fascist Ambassa-
dor at Washington, fearing the effect
which the words of the general might
well be able to evoke, protested to the
American Government. Mussolini de-
MED the episode, and the Ambassador
based his appeal upon the relations ex-
isting between the two countries from
q diplomatic standpoint. Thereupon
the chief of the American Department
of Foreign Affairs Estate Department.
presented the apologies Of the Ameri-
can Government, while the head Of the
Marine Navy Department announced
that Gen. Butler would be tried before a
court-martial. Mussolini fastened to
accept the regrets Of the American
Government, and declared In turn that,
dent was closed.
But the incident is not closed, either
for Gen. Butler, or for the American
people. The incident has had, and VIII
have, consequences. The first Of these,
naturally, is the exultation of the Fas-
cist press, which, in language both inn
pudent and banal, describes this mild
| and tactful adjustment OF the AFFAIR as
proof of the willingness of America to
submit even to the whispered word OF
Fascist italy.
Yet, 1t Is only necessary to observe, In
| this affair, on the one side general
| who, for his qualities of courage, loyalty
and spirit, is one Of the most distm-
| guished officers in the American service,
and one of the men most approved by
the American people; and on the ether
side, the chief of dictatorial regime
who talks continually Of war, who de-
sires the destruction OF democratic CIV
| ilization, and on whom falls the direct
responsibility for the fragrant crimes OF
| Fascism, of the "Ceka" and OF the
"Viminar' sponsored by himself.
It is easy to understand that in the
| iuxtaposition Of the characters OF the
| two personalities public opinion IN
| America is not slow in siding with the
| general against the dictator. Many
| prominent Americans have already de-
| clared that the State Department acted
too hastily in making its condescension
| to MusSolini, and that 1t should have
awaited the result Of the official inquiry
The matter has already had its echo
| In the Senate, where Senator Helm OF
| Alabama has severely criticized the &C
| ton of the Government, declaring that
| Mussolini Is "monarchistic mailman.
"a tyrant with red hands, chargeanie
with the deaths Of many Italians"
For his part. Cornelius Vanderbilt.
who, 1t Is said, was the author OF the
anecdote repeated by Gen. Butler, writes
| from Arizona, where he Is now soiourn-
/ ing. that the Italian minister OF foreign
/ affairs has erred In his statement that
| he. Vanderbilt, had never seen Musso-
/ lini. He insists that he has not only
| interviewed the minister, but that, july
1 q. 1925. he cahled from Rome report
| OF that interview which appeared In
| the American press.
The New York Herald has reproduced
| an article appearing In the Nuovo Mon
| do, in which the allegations Of Gen
| Butler are confirmed. The incident Is
| said to have occurred near Grosseto, and
| a little girl was injured by car driven
by MussolinL The management Of the
Nuovo Mundo guarantees the accuracy
| Of the account, adding that witnesses OF
the entire episode, whose names II would
be dangerous TO publish for fear Of re-
prisals, are still living in Italy.
It has been announced that the tria'
Of Gen. Butler will be held behind
closed doors, but 1t Is more likely that
the profound popular agitation, and the
desire Of the general 70 defend himself