Underground Fascism
The news of a plot of " Fascist Republicans " in Sardinia to incite the islanders to throw off allegiance to the King shows that Fascism may not necessarily have been killed by conquering a country where it ruled. The ringleaders were arrested by the Italian military governor and incriminating evidence seized. It will be noticed that it was under the authority of the Badoglio Government that the plot was firmly and satisfactorily dealt with. But it is not in Sardinia alone that Fascist underground movements are stirring. Even in liberated Italy meetings of the Republican Fascist party are being held and attempts made to push Fascist propaganda. The Government is making a genuine effort to purge the public offices, and even private companies performing public utility services, of persons who have taken a militant part in the Fascist party, and is clearly bent on proving that it has no sympathy with the old order. It is calculated that under the decree issued by the Government between 6,000 and moot) people will eventually lose their jobs in all Italy. These dismissed officials will remain potential centres of disaffection in the future ; and just because such persons can thrive on discontent, and probably on discontent alone, it is of supreme importance to get orderly government functioning as soon as possible and to push ahead with measures of relief and rehabilitation.
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