Events in Italy seem to be marching at an ever-increasing
pace. Hard upon the heels of Signor Mussolini's dra- matic announcement of a new electoral law, and the pro- bability of elections in the summer, comes the publication of a memorandum by Signor Rossi, who was, before his arrest for complicity in the Matteotti murder, one of the Fascist leaders. It inculpates Signor Mussolini in many of the worst deeds of violence which have disgraced the Fascist regime. Not even the Fascist Press itself . denies the authenticity of the document, and its publication seems to have weakened the support which moderate opinion has given to Fascism, for fear of a worse thing befalling the nation. Up till now moderate opinion has always been able to throw the responsibility for the dark• deeds of the last three years on to Fascist extremists, and to regard Signor Mussolini as a national, not a sectarian,. leader who was always attempting to restrain the violence of his followers. But now—if Signor Rossi's document is correct—he is revealed as one of the most violent and utterly lawless of the Fascists.
Previous page
