20 OCTOBER 1923, Page 3

The result of the crisis may be said-to have been

a triumph for II Duce, but a triumph which he had to buy at a considerable cost. Although he had his way against the extremists at almost every point at issue, yet he had to reappoint them all to high office. Thus the obvious danger of Fascismo splitting on the hard rock of recon- struction has not been so much solved as shelved. All the men who have opposed Signor Mussolini are still in power, and sooner or later they or he will have to give way. The question whether Italy shall take part in the forthcoming Tangier Conference is causing considerable trouble. On Tuesday it was announced that Italy's request for par- ticipation had been refused. But on Wednesday the Times announced that Italy had made no formal request for admission to the Conference. However that may be, it is clear that Italy desires to participate and that the opposition to her doing so comes from France. We cannot urge too strongly that the British Government should press for Italy's inclusion. Whatever her legal rights may be, there can be no doubt of her moral right, as a Mediter- ranean Power, to be represented at such a conference.

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