Fascist New Year

The Fascist "Year VI" ended last week, and the "Year VII" began. This chronology is official. All Italian state papers are now doubly dated, once from the birth of the Saviour and again from the inception of the Fascist Regime--just six years ago.

Therefore, last week was a sort of Fascist New Year's tide. There were mammoth processions in celebration of the "Fascist March on Rome" (see above); but also there was much quiet casting up of political accounts. Especially were the recent "diplomatic victories" of Benito Mussolini proudly reviewed:

Abyssinian Victory. Just two years ago it seemed that Italy and Britain were firmly leagued to assist each other in the joint commercial penetration of Abyssinia, backward Afric realm. Jointly the two great Powers brought pressure upon Regent Ras Taffari of Abyssinia to permit Italian exploitation of a railway and British construction of certain mighty water works for irrigating the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Smart, the Abyssinian Regent yielded momentarily, but subsequently made to the League of Nations a squa.wk so potent that British public opinion turned against the exploitation scheme-- leaving in the lurch Benito Mussolini.

How the Italian Dictator has carried through the project, on new lines and singlehanded, is a fit subject for New Year celebration.

Perceiving that the Regent (now Emperor) of Abyssinia might yield to Royalty what he would not to statesmen, Commoner Mussolini enlisted the aid of King Vittorio Emmanuele's smart cousin, the Duke of Abruzzi. With pomp and panoply, the Duke and a suite of Royal proportions crossed the Mediterranean, sailed down the eastern coast of Africa, and then struck inland to Abyssinia and its remote capital, Addis Ababa. Of assistance in thawing the suspicious Regent's reserve was a huge, shiny Issota-Fraschini limousine, a de luxe Italian product which sells in the U. S. for some $18,000. This limousine and many another gift did the Duke of Abruzzi bestow.

Not for months afterwards, not until the King's cousin had returned to Rome, was partial revelation made of what he accomplished. Much has still to be revealed. But these things are known: 1) Italy has leased to Abyssinia for 130 years the use of a corridor through the Italian colony of Eritrea to the Red Sea, and the port of Assab; 2) Under an Italo-Abyssinian "Treaty of Amity and Arbitration" Italian financiers enjoy an option of financing any concessions which may be let along the new trade route from Assab to Addis Ababa; 3) A railroad to serve this route will be built, partly by Italian and partly by native capital. Persistent rumors hint the discovery and projected Italian exploitation of oi. lands in Abyssinia.

In short: a major diplomatic victory for Il Duce and the Duke, discreetly achieved without squawks.

Tangier. Another signal triumph for Benito Mussolini was the success of his emissaries, last summer, in negotiations with representatives of Spain, France and Great Britain respecting control of the internationalized port of Tangier, just across the strait from Gibraltar. Without entering into details it may fairly be said that Il Duce obtained all that he sought and secured potent Italian participation in the policing and control of Tangier.

Albania & Balkans. More widely famed is the signal success of Dictator Mussolini in setting up a King of Albania of his own choosing, and in creating a series of Balkan rapprochements designed to encircle the minor nation most hated and feared by Italy, namely Jugoslavia. Although the degree of Il Duce's semisecret successes cannot be accurately gauged, he has come to a favorable understanding and signed "Treaties of Conciliation" with Greece, Bulgaria, Rumania and Hungary, not to mention his strangle-grip on Albania.

International. Signer Mussolini does not conceal his contempt for the League of Nations; and it was his influence chiefly which blocked a majority of League states from disciplining Hungary for buying smuggled Italian arms. The Dictator conceals his contempt for the Kellogg Peace Pact; but "permitted" (ordered) the Fascist press to tear it editorially to shreds. Il Duce is the only prime minister of the Allied Powers who supports President Coolidge and Secretary Kellogg in their opposition to the naval intrigues of Great Britain (see International).

In general terms, it may be said that Benito Mussolini can point today to more diplomatic victories and near-victories than any other Chief Executive.