SIGNOR MUSSOLINI [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sza,—Although an
Englishman, I have lived long enough in Italy to deplore your attitude towards Signor Mussolini. Have you, Sir, sufficiently considered his difficulties and the tempera- ment of the Italians ? Would we like a less dramatic and forceful figure to be controlling the destinies of Italy ? And supposing such a figure were in power, would Italy be as pros- perous and respected as she is to-day ? Would the debt ques- tion have been settled ? It seems to me ungenerous to demand of the Fascist dictator to be other than what he is.
I am not a Fascist and don't want Fascism in England if it can be avoided. But it is wrong to imagine that Fascismo is not a regenerative force in the country of its origin. Anyone with eyes to see can see for himself how Turin, Milan, Genoa are flourishing. It is not, primarily, a creed of violence, but, as its name implies, a constructive formula to bind capital, technical ability and labour into one productive whole. And Fascismo is not a theory unproven. It works. Italy is more prosperous than she has ever been, and her working classes happier : such, at any rate, is the impression of the writer, who lisped Piedmontese at his nurse's knee and has known that fair land for thirty years.—I am, Sir, &c., GIOVINEZZA. [We have never denied that much that Signor Mussolini has done has been beneficial and inspiring.—En. Spectator.]
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