The long Ministerial crisis in Italy ended on Tuesday with
the return of Signor Facta to office with nearly all his former colleagues. The intrigues of the leaders of the numerous groups in the Chamber were summarily ended by the Fascisti. The Socialists and Communists, eager for a Radical Cabinet, had declared a general strike "to defend the proletariat " and to frighten the politicians. The Fascisti, whose mission is to fight Socialist disorder, responded by giving Signor Facts forty-eight hours "to restore the authority of the State." Their attitude was so resolute that in many towns the order to strike was disregarded or even withheld. Iii Rome the Fascisti maintained order in the streets and saw that the tram-service was uninterrupted. The manifest defeat of the Socialists inspired Signor Facta with fresh courage. Disregarding the manoeuvres of the factions, he formed his Ministry anew within a few hours. It seems strange that the Italian Government should have to depend for the maintenance of law and order upon the efforts of an entirely unofficial society of patriotic youths. But the unconventional methods of the Fascisti have at any rate saved the situation this week.
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