FASCIST ITALY
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—" A Lover of Truth" has, I fear, been leading your readers astray, in spite of his love. He does not seem to love Italy very well, by the way, or to be acquainted with her language, for he writes " confinato " for " confino."
I will answer his points in order :-
1. "Vita Nuova ' implies that the electors freely choose the present Deputies." I did nothing of the kind. I implied, and your correspondent admits, that the nation votes "Yes "or " No "to the list submitted to it. If the list were rejected, new elections would be held with competing lists. But only last year, the people sup- ported Fascism with a staggering majority. 2. "The fate of the wife and brother of Signor Rosselli." What is their " fate " ? How can we judge whether the 'police were or were not right in interrogating Signora Rosselli ? Surely it is unwise and un-English to meddle in the internal affairs of a friendly nation ? 3. Your correspondent says that the growth of Savings Banks Deposits cannot be attributed to Fascism. They grew from 10 to 17 million lire in the four years before the march on Rome. In the
four subsequent years they grew from 17 to 26 million lire. .
4. "It is not correct to say the Army has been reduced." Perhaps I was wrong. I still believe I am right and visitors to Italy will notice that there are far fewer officers and soldiers in uniform ; but I am willing to concede that the Army may technically be on the pre-Fascist footing.
5. "Signor Mussolini is not dependent on his Parliament." Neither is President Hoover on Congress. Both are influenced by it and that was my point.
6. The Rome correspondent of the Observer says that the dispute between the Pope and Mussolini over education shows no signs of dying down." Well, surely these two great men have done some- thing, in signing the Lateran Treaty, towards the settlement of a delicate and complicated situation ? But at the close of his letter your correspondent says that Italy has lost "all mental and spiritual freedom " : if "A Lover of Truth" believes that, he or she can believe anything.
Finally, your correspondent is of the opinion that :— " with regard to the general prosperity of the people much could be said."
Here are a few of the things that could be said :— (a) Taxes were reduced by 500,000,000 lire a few days ago, (b) wheat production has increased from 38 million quintals in 1920 to 62 millions in 1928, (c) the budget of 1922 had a deficit of 6 milliards, this year's a surplus of 500 millions, (d) railways before the advent of Fascism showed a deficit of 1,200 millions, to-day they show a surplus, (e) unemployment used to average from 500,000 to 600,000, to-day, in spite of restricted emigration, 200,000, and (f) from 1919- 1922 the average annual loss from strikes and lock-outs was 16 million working days : since 1924 there have been virtually no strikes or lockouts.
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