Evening star., 1938-07-11
II Duce Branches Out.

Benito Mussolini probably has never
heard Of the convivial American of saw
dust floor days who, leaning precari-
ously on the brass rail Of a pre-Vol-
stead oasis, once proclaimed his ability
to click any man in the world" His
blum was promptly called by a neighbor
at the bar, who observed, while stretch
ing the braggart to . horizontal posi-
ton, that he was taking in too much
territory"
In an article accorded nation wide
publicity in the Italian press during the
week end, Mussolini reveals that there
is no limit to the territory which Fascism
Is prepared to take in-probably In
more ways than one-for the purpose
of making the world safe for Black Shirt
ideology. II Duce unblushingly avows
Ftaly's readiness for an international
conflict to accomplish that purpose,
which he hkens to the religious wars
OF three centuries ago. The earmarked
enemies of the Fascist crusade would be
communism and democracy. Musso-
lini's confession of 1taly's eagerness to
assume leadership Of such a holy"
campaign takes the form Of a preface to
the DEGREES of the Fascist Grand Council
during the fifteen fateful years since
the march on Rome.
The autocrat of the Tiber cites in
tervention in the Spanish civil war as
an indication Of what non-Fascist peo-
pies may expect as the aftermath Of
the enormous historical importance" Of
1taly's military alliance with General
Franco. His words leave little to the
imagination. 1T is the first time"-says
Mussolini. "but will it be the last timer
that the Black Shirts have met the
forces OF Bolshevism and of immora!
principles democracy on the interna-
tional field. It is the first encounter
between the two revolutions, that of the
last century for revolution is also 4
revolutionary involution) and our own.
We do not know whether such q clash
will develop tomorrow, or on a Euro
pean and worldwide scale. What We do
know Is that Fascism does not fear
tight which must decide the fate of
continents"
Renecting the community of interest
that binds Italian Fascism with the
totalitarian ideologies of Germany and
Japan, II Duce explains that it is the
Ethiopian war and the League of Ma
tion sanctions which "orientated" Italy's
foreign policy, and incubated the Rome
Berlin axis and the Rome e-Berlin- Toxic
triangle. The solidarity between himself
and Hitler is such that there is no need
OF accords In the democratic style,
Roman commentators remark the abb
sence in Mussolini's pronunciamento of
any reference to the Anglo Italian pact
"a silence that can brood little comfort
to Mr.. Chamberlain ut this anxious hour,
II Duce speaks of Fascism's ideological
aspirations in terms Of Continents" 1t
Is precisely the well-known designs Of
the Rome and Berlin dictatorships on
the continent Of South America that in.
duced Congress, on the threshold of
adjournment, to act unquestioningly on
the State Departments request for au-
thority to establish and maintain a Dr.
vision Of Cultural Relations. The
United States unconcealed purpose is
to delay no longer in combating a cam
paign throughout Latin America, which
Assistant Secretary of State Messer-
smith branded as q major emergency"
confronting this country.