Retrenchment in Italy In the Senate on Thursday, December 18th,
Signor Mussolini reviewed the financial condition of Italy and declared that the recent reduction of the salaries of all State employees was inevitable. They had to share the sacrifice which was being made by all the industrial workers and agriculturists. The sacrifice was indeed universal. Although there had been isolated cases of resistance he could fairly say that during the past month
"the Italian people" (we are quoting from the Times) " had shown a magnificent example of discipline." One consolation was that the fall in the cost of living had made a reduction of wages less severe than it seemed, He detected here and there signs of economic revival, and he declared that when the revival did come it would be as great and as rapid as the present crisis was profound. What solution was possible, asked Signor Mussolini, except sacrifice and discipline ? Taxation could not possibly be increased. It was already too high. Every- thing that could be cut down must be cut down. But one thing he would not reduce—military expenditure.
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