These words were, of course, aimed at France. Yet it
is difficult to see what France could have done. There are at least a quarter of a million Italians in France, and it would be impossible for France to deprive them of personal freedom. It seems that the would-be assassin, who had been living for some time in Marseilles, - had an exemplary record there.- Moreover, he had been in Rome for a week before his attempt on Signor Mussolini, so that if the Italian police suspected him it would have been right for them to watch his move- ments rather than to blame France. He is said to have co-operated with well-known subversive elements in Rome. It is also said that there was a wide conspiracy against the Duce. Three hundred arrests have been made, including that of Signor Malatesta, the anarchist. Recriminations between the Italian and French news- papers have since flowed in a steady flood.
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