Evening star., 1937-10-11
.MUSSOL|N| FOES
PICKET EMBASSY
Son of II Duce Sleeps On.
Shouts Are Answered
by Fascists.
picture on Page A-5)

Doubtless discouraged by being out
numbered by police and detectives, a
handful of Italian-American anti
Fascists made hearted attempt
to picket the Italian Embassy today
and express their disapproval of Wit
torio Mussolini, 2l-year-old son of II
Duce. being received by President
Roosevelt this afternoon.
Flaunting placards and occasionally
shouting derisively in the direction of
the embassy, located on Sixteenth
street near Euclid, the demonstrators
failed to gain recognition from Wit
torio. who apparently was still asleep
inside.
About is strong, the picketers ar
rived in small groups, the first con-
tingent walking by the embassy crying
"Basso (down with) Mussolini!"
Fascists Answer Shouts.
Mild diSSension was created by a
group Of FascisS, who wore button
hole emblems of their organization
They stood on corner and answered
the shouts Of "Basso Mussolini'' with
cries of Viva Mussolini!" They were
ignored by the anti-Fascists.
More than a score Of uniformed
and plainclothes officers, led by In
spector Edward J. Kelly, stood around
prepared for action. A patrol wagon
was parked on side street nearby,
ready to haul away those who got out
Of hand.
Around noon. after the picketers
had relinquished their placards to
police. without sign of violence, and
dispersed. Vittorio left the embassy
with attaches and drove to the JUS
tice Department, where he was taken
on tour through the Federal Bureau
of Investigation.
Shortly after the first group of
anti-FascistS came on the scene, an
other group of five or six arrived with
placards, some of which proclaimed:
"Vittorio Mussolini - Americans
don't want you bombing civilization!";;
President Roosevelt-Don't shake
hands with the son of an aggressor!
Bruno MuSsolini tVittorios brother)
now bombs Spain; is America next?";;
Hero Vittorio, how many innocent
women and children did you kill in
Spain?" and Wanted for collective
murder-Vittorio Mussolini!"
Kept Moving by Police.
No attempt was made by police to
halt the demonstrators, other than to
keep them moving.
One demonstrator, bolder than the
rest, who stopped to handy words with
Inspector Kelly, was given a push and
told to get along downtown"
Two motorists, who paid more at
tention to the picketing than to their
driving, crashed in front of the En-
bassy, but escaped injury.
Plans for the demonstration we're
made at a meeting of more than 100
Italian-American anti-Fascists last
night at 1902 Fourteenth street.
There the foes of Mussolini, who
gathered under direction of the Dis
trict branch of the italian Anti
Fascist Committee, heard Girolamo
Valenti, editor Of La Stampa Liberia,
a New York newspaper. draw up a
statement urging President Roosevelt
not to receive Vittorio.
Letter Is Approved.
With shouts of AYE" and ISL" the
anti-Fascists signifled their approval
Of letter to the President which rec
omended that young Mussolini not be
allowed in the White House because
he represents the lawlessness of the
aggressor nations whom you wish to
put in quarantine"
Unaware Of the stir caused by his
visit, Vittorio motored to Middleburg,
Va, yesterday in company of the
Italian Ambassador and Nine. Suvich,
where they lunched. at the home Of
Capt. Randolph Santini, retired Ital-
ian Army oficer.
After flying here from New York
Saturday and being overwhelmed by
autograph seekers at Washington
Airport, Vittorio was entertained at
dinner at the Italian Embassy and
stepped out" later in the evening.
He went to a dance at the Chevy
Chase Country Club, where he was
the center Of attraction for members
Of the Capitals young social set.
The dictator's son planned to re-
turn to New York by plane today and
sail for home later In the week aboard
, the Italian liner Rex.