Evening star., 1939-01-18
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.
Star stan Correspondent.

star stan Correspondent.
ROME, Dec, 1938.-There are
two kinds of Fascists among the
ruling class of Italy: The old guard
and the henchmen. The old guard
fought with Mussolini from the
very beginning of the Fascist era.
The henchmen rose to power in
recent years by adulation and by
flattering II Duce.
Few of the old guard can be
found in high position in Rome
these days. Field Marshal de Bono
is in retirement in the provinces;
he spoke bluntly about the Ethio-
plan campaign and its shortcomings
He also was harsh in criticizing
Mussolini's new brain trusters.
Dino Grandi is 1taly's Ambassa-
dor in London and is being kept in
complete darkness about the future
plans of his chief and former close
associate, whom he used to advise
SO adroitly in foreign affairs. Air
Marshal Italo Balbo is in re-
sponsible position in Libya, but no.
body knows whether he will be per-
mitted to keep it if relations be-
tween Italy and France lead to
war.
Watch From Listening Posts.
The Duke of Aosta, one of the
original supporters of Fascism
among the members of the royal
family, is in Ethiopia, and Musso-
lini is taking good care that he
does not return soon.
None of these men has seen II
Duce for long time. They are
watching Italy from their listening
posts outside the kingdom and Won
der when their friend and leader
will wake up They cannot under
stand how Mussolini has enmeshed
himself in Hitler's web to the extent
he has 1t surprises them to see
how Mussolini, SO set in his ideas
is now endeavoring to initiate Der
Fuehrer even in small details.
For instance, the Frigian car
which Fascism adopted as a head
gear has been abolished and re-
placed by the German military
cap. The civil servants have been
dolled up in admirals' uniforms
II Duce spent several weeks after
his return from Germany devisine
and designing the new uniforms
every member of the civil service
now must wear. 1t is pathetic tc
see some obese officials, men who
have been sitting in swivel chairs
for years and whose only physlca
exercise was the Fascist salute, now
trying to look military in the blue
and gold uniform of Italian official.
dom.
What worries the old guard Fas.
cists more than this. however, j:
Mussolini's political blunder of anti.
Jewish legislation. 1t does not cor
respond to any economic or socia
necessity of Italy Jewish persecu.
ton is the work of men like Starace
and Farinacl. 1t was prompted BY
nothing but the desire to please
Hitler and Goebbels, and they con
vinced the hitherto realistic Duct
that Italy must get rid of thu
Semitic race which they say is pois'
| oning the country's economic life
Small Percentage OF Jews.
1t is admitted by everybody here
including good. devoted Fascists
that there has not been singl'
measure taken in the last II year
! as unpopular as the anti-Semiti
laws. There is no Jewish question
in Italy. The Italians are the leas
anti-Semitic people in the world
And this is quite understandable
The total population of Italy mum
bers $4,000, 900. Out of these ther
/ are less than 10000 Jews, includ
ing some 10000 who came from
Germany and other sections o.
Europe because of racial persecu
ton
A large number Of native Italian
Jews long ago embraced the Cath
olic faith and have been loya
citizens of Italy They fought il
the World War and the Ethiopian
War; they have been as genuinel.
nationalistic as any Black Shir
and have helped Mussolinl's Fascis
movement Fundamentally from tn
| very beginning. These people saw
themselves deprived of their liveli
hood almost overnight.
Italian officials could not under
| stand the law at first and explained
to everybody that it was just {
gesture which looked worse on paper
than it would actually be. 1t viii
never be applied fully, they tole
everybody. But in fact the anti.
Jewish measures appear milder or
paper than they actually are. They
are being applied with most un-
Italian thoroughness. Officials wht
are severely reprimandcd ane
threatened If they show any dispo.
sition to be humane In applying
the law say that the German EN-,
bassy takes keen interest in it.
Forced to Sell Possessions.
For instance, Jews who came from
SCl ludlly Oul lIlS VIC AdoI 1Ooi yCoA
and became useful Italian citizen:
are given so many weeks to leave
the country If within six hour!
of the expired time they have founc
no haven they are deported back
to Germany-that is. to concentra
ton camp.
AS in the Reich, they are forced
to sell all their possession but art
not allowed to take out of the coun.
try more than 5000. These are
tragic cases, but from certain
aspect less tragic than the position
of Jews born in Italy and whose
families have been here for gener.
ations. These are still allowed to bt
shopkeepers and exercise some lib.
eral professions provided they art
in no way connected with the gov.
ernment.
This seems liberal enough if i
were in democratic state, but ir
a dictatorship, where almost every
human activity is controlled by thu
government, the measure is harsh