--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Sjodahl, J. M. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 29 number: 6 published: 1926-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Sjodahl, J. M., “Mussolini, and Europe’s Need of Peace,” *Improvement Era* 29, no. 6 (April 1926): 549–551." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2906unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera2906unse start_page: 549 end_page: 551 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1926-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2906unse publication_year: 1926 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1926, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Mussolini, and Europe’s Need of Peace MUSSOLINI, AND EUROPE'S NEED OF PEACE By J. M. Sjodahl Once in a while, on the horizon of history, there appears a star which blazes forth in brilliancy for a time and then fades and melts into the obscurity from which it emerged. Is Benito Mussolini such a star? The answer to that question will have to be reserved till after the last chapter of his biography shall have been penned. At present it can only be said that, at his words and acts, statesmen are amazed. Benito Mussolini, the son of a blacksmith, has for almost three years been at the helm of the Italian ship of state. Some time before he became prominent, he taught school. According to the reports, at a certain polling place there was, during that period of his eventful life, some serious trouble with the ballot box at the time of an election, whereupon Mussolini proceeded to the neighboring country of Switzer-, land. Here he is said to have been active in socialist propaganda, and by and by he thought it best to leave in peace. He then went to France, where he had a struggle for existence, until he could return to his beloved Italy, where he, once more became prominent in social- istic activity. Then came the world war. Opinions in Italy were divided, as to whether the country ought to join the Allies or keep neutral. The socialists were for neutrality. Mussolini came out for war. He started a paper, Popolo d'ltalia, in which the war policy was strongly advocated. He did more. He enlisted, as soon as that policy was adopted, and served with some distinction, which was recognized by his elevation to the position of a corporal and a non-commissioned officer. After having received a wound, he returned to civil life, whereupon he began a war of his own upon what he called "national inanition." At this time he was both anti-socialist and anti-parliamentarist, although he claimed that he was only opposed to the abuses of popular government. Mussolini succeeded in being elected to the chamber of deputies. In 1917, an organization had been founded by certain senators and deputies who were in favor of war. They were known as "militant fascists." Mussolini joined that organization, which was the begin- ning of the Italian national fascist party, in which he was recognized as the leader. This party grew rapidly, as the living conditions in the country became more and more difficult. In 1922, a rally was held at Naples, and when Mussolini there saw 50,000 armed fascists, with their officers, parade the streets, admired by the large, sympathetic mob, he realized that his opportunity had come. The fascists began their plans for taking possession of Rome, whereupon the Facta cabinet, panic stricken, resigned. The king found 550 IMPROVEMENT ERA it difficult to get another cabinet, and finally called upon Mussolini to take the premiership. Clothed in his black fascist shirt, this gentle- man accepted and declared that the king had no more loyal subject than he. The same evening, Italy had a new cabinet. Lately, Mussolini has created a series) of ripples on the easily disturbed waters of European politics, by his public utterances. New year's eve, when he assumed the office of governor of the city of Rome, he delivered an oration about what would be done relative to the great future of Rome. In a few years the city would be restored to the place it held long ago, during the days of the empire. To perform that miracle would only take five years. He would see to that. At the same time he promised to enhance greatly the honor and fame of the victorious king and the house of Savoy. The two statements' joined together were regarded as ominous. Later came from Rome certain more or less definite rumors that Mussolini favored the creation of a new Italian state — a very small one — with the pope as its ruler. That would mean the restoration of the temporal power to the papal throne, and the right of the pope to a place in the councils of nations and a voice concerning the political affairs of the world. Ever since 1871, when Italy an- nexed the papal state, the pope has had no voice, officially, in political affairs, although his influence has been seen and felt in governments everywhere. Still later, the Italian premier has intimated that his country would not hesitate to carry its flag beyond the northern boundaries, if German agitation in Tyrol did not cease. This attack had the appearance of a deliberate attempt to blame Germany for the results of his own fascist policy of persecution and repression, in violation of the Versailles treaty concerning the rights of minorities. Ordinarily, such oratory would cause only mirth, but under the present conditions the world cannot be indifferent to the sport of the rocking of the boat. The real trouble is financial. Italy is owing vast sums of money to the United States and to Great Britain. To the latter country her indebtedness is about $3,000,000,000, and the question naturally arises what will the Italians do about that money? When a country has a sane and stable government, there is no anxiety about the national indebtedness. The interest will always be paid, and the security is good. But is the present government of Italy really safe? That is the question in the minds of many. Russia has repudiated her indebtedness. Mussolini has already suggested that part of the country's debt to Great Britain be paid by Italy's rendering military aid against Turkey in case of war over the Mosul question. That is tanta- mount to no payment at all of that part of the debt. Then, Italians have also intimated that the Allies — and that, perhaps, includes the United States, although in that truly entangling alliance we were only "as- sociates"— are owing Italy some, because that country was not paid MUSSOLINI AND EUROPE'S NEED OF PEACE 551 sufficiently for its services in winning the war. The question among the creditors is, therefore, what next? It is the uncertainty that causes a degree of anxiety. Mussolini is known to believe that a nation is justified in furthering its interests by war. If he should succeed in forming a coalition with Jugo-Slavia, Czecho-Slovakia, and Poland, he might launch out on a policy of adventure, but that is a remote probability. The situation created by the Italian premier, and the unrest char- acteristic of the Balkan states; the necessity for a long term of peace- ful development — all prove how greatly Europe is in need of some such institutions as the League of Nations and the Permanent Court of International Justice for the maintenance of peace in accordance with the principles of justice and equity. Tobacco Users as Fanatics By Will H. Brown In practically every community where there are any kind of laws or restrictions against smoking in certain places, the laws are disregarded by many smokers. Magistrate Folwell, of Brooklyn, N. Y., in fining a man for smoking in the subway of that city, said: "Men like you who persist in smoking in public places are aiding those fanatics who would like to pass an anti-tobacco law." Just why those who assert their right to pure air and good health conditions should be called "fanatics" is a mystery. One would think that all sane persons would insist upon such conditions, and that the real fanatics are those who insist on spreading filth and smut and smudge wherever they go, on land and in air. Some street cars, where smoking is permitted, smell more like the abode of pigs, that know no better, than a place occupied by persons supposed to have good sense. If an inhabitant from another planet had just come to our earth, con- fronted by such a situation, which class do you think he would refer to as fanatics? As Magistrate Folwell says, this very thing is aiding in bring- ing about the overthrow of tobacco. Everywhere it is the same story, in street-cars, subways, elevators, dining rooms, hotels. The smoking fanatics are doing more to hasten the campaign against tobacco than any other one force — not only because of the nuisance of their course, but the destructiveness of it. The National Board of Fire Under- writers says that careless smokers cause the greatest fire loss of any known cause in the United States, for trie year 1922, the total loss from this cause being $25,776,951. Commenting upon this the Board says: "This factor — malefactor, rather — led by $7,000,000 its nearest rival in culpability, which was defective chimneys and flues." Verily, the defiant, careless smoker is the Fanatic. Oakland, Calif.