The Wilmington morning star., 1947-12-30
Victor Emmanuel Ill

some disgraceful scandals in prewar years
Victor Emmanuel III
Victor Emmanuel, III, the former little
king of Italy who foolheartedly gave away
the freedom of his people to ultimately re-
ceive exile in return, is dead.
The end came in Egypt and what final
glory there may be for him will not be
directly from his former subjects but from
the country of his sanctuary, whose ruler
is anxious to pay an old debt to the House
of Savoy. Many, many years ago, King
Farouk's grandfather, the former Khedive
of Ismail, took refuge in Italy and the
royal family there, then firmly on the
throne, gave him all the dignities befitting
his rank. The Egyptian king never has for
gotten this obligation and carefully looked
after the Italian royal family's welfare on
its arrival in Egypt in May 1916. Already,
the Egyptian court has begun seven-day
period of mourning.
But it will be quite xcusable if the
Italian people note the passing of their
former king with scant ceremony.
The moral of the life Of Victor Emmanu-
el III involves them, and in a helpless,
pitiful way, more than anyone else.
They are the real victims of the tragedy
of his appeasement of Mussolini.
It was in October, 1922, that the great
turn came. Mussolini and hs Black Shirts
were gathering for their famous march on
Rome. And instead of opposing or even re-
naming aloof the latter certainly his privi-
l1ooo in INV, he iol
ters for the first time and refused to sign
a decree of martial law that probably
would have stopped Mussolinls advance
Then, after extending the first helping
hand, he followed through with an invita-
ton to the rising political leader to form a
new government.
Thus having shattered tradition of the
throne, Victor Emmanuel III began what
he thought would be team with a ruthless
man who had convinced him ne could pull
Italy to new heights.
Few months passed before Italy realized
that it was sadd1ed with 2 totalitarian gov
ernment answerable to but one man-Mus.
solini. Through decree by decree, there
came a dictatorial restraint it had never
known and made the once smiling Italy a
land of dread and death for those who still
thought individual freedom could oe re-
turned.
Perhaps Mussolini thought he owed his
patron, now as powerless as any other
Italian in fascism, debt. He sought to
pay it with a false grandeur and terri
torial expansion program which, succeed
for the moment, was destined for complete
failure. Finally, the fortunes of the king
and Mussolini waned 70 the point that
there was nothing to do but turn Italy over
to man-Hitler-who had copied and i'm
proved Mussolini's methods with far great
er success. With this came complete bank
ruptcy which reached its climax in drama
with the shooting and hanging of IL Duce
and his mistress in Milan square late in
April, 1945.
Italy was prosperous and reckoned as q
world power when Victor Emmanuel III
came to the throne in the summer of 1900.
1t Weathered one great war but its feeble
recovery brought Mussolini out and,
through the kings appeasement, on to
power.
This was case of an individuals ap-
of his people.
But it began a chain reaction which saw
numerous other governments and coun-
tries collapse in compromise And the
others are no better off today than Italy.
now accepting charity, practically all of
1t from the United States, as she begins
the hari road back. Whether it will lead to
restoration of freedom, peace and happi-
ness, no one knows. But there is the les
son IN the life of Victor Emmanuel III she
can hardly ignore. The dreadful opportun-
Ivy Tor appeasement is here again - be.
tween communism and a form of democ-
racy. With the dark past still vivid in mind
.he choice should not be difficult. Whethe,
!. + me. me right one is made will decide if the
- ss'lonal life of three, distinct stages o1
= = avsry' wavs strife and poverty is heading to-
- , eAo an end with the death of a 78-vear.
: u ,,.., man in rented villa in AIexandr;s
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