Italy's New Duce?

Who are Italy’s new Fascists? There are numerous groups of them throughout the country, but Guglielmo Giannini’s party is ITALY’S NEW DUCE? the most important. With many of Musso- lini’s Fascists in its ranks, it numbers some 2,000,000 people. Professor Ferruccio Parri, a Partisan leader who served as Premier in Once again, a loud-mouthed, 1945, describes them as “not a political party swaggering journalist id out but a mob. They are a disorganized mass of malcontents who well be the instiga- to grab power in Rome. Will may tors of another totalitarian regime.” he shake the of peace Europe? Their rallying point is Giannini’s weekly newspaper, “L’Uomo Qualunque" — “The Common Man.” Published in Rome, it has an Italy today, a fat, sandy-haired former average circulation of 500,000 and at times INFascist with a flair for invective is preparing has reached 800,000 — the highest in Italy. for the day when he hopes his own party will It is a libelous, scandal-mongering sheet whose take over the government. He is Guglielmo four pages are crammed each week with Giannini, editor and self-styled critic. Nattily vicious attacks on the government, the Allies dressed in a satin shirt and loud sports jacket, and Communism. It asserts that today, he flourishes a riding crop with the swagger instead of one Fascist Party, there are six of a German major and keeps an automatic hew parties — six times as bad.” Many in a hip holster. “just Italians, disgusted with the bitter fights When I met him in a Rome night club, he among Italy’s political factions, have adopted cocked an eye behind his monocle; stretched precisely this view of democracy at work. a hand across the table and said, smiling: "Well! I am to meet one of our always glad Bs Bates P—ny liberators." But he could not conceal a sneer as he added: 'Tell me, when do you Ameri- Giannini himself edits “The Common cans expect to leave Italy?" Man.” At first merely wide-open “gripe” ses- A short time later, in an interview with a sions, his editorials now outline a positive United Press correspondent, he charged that program as well. He wants an “administra- President Roosevelt was the man responsible tive” state to be directed by the “common for the Second World War. And when another man” — not by “politicians.” “Nobody elect- correspondent asked him about the threats ed Mussolini and his henchmen,” he argues. on ms life he was supposed to But who elected the anti-Fas- have received. Giannini simply cist party leaders?” stroked his pistol and remarked, As an orator, Giannini is elo- “I am never alone.” quent. He bristles with energy Before I left Naples last win- and his voice rasps with excite- ter, Corrado Alvaro, Italy’s pro- ment. More than anything else, foundest political writer, told he hates democracy. He and his me: “Despite everyone’s fears of followers would prefer swift, — Russia, there is little chance that sure if necessary, harsh — Communism soon will gain con- action by a strong leader. trol in Our Italy. real danger So far, he has not tried strong- today is a new form of Fascism.” arm methods. But the majority looming at the moment carabmurt police of Italians today are his potential followers. in Rome had pounced on stacks, of Commu- This does not mean that Italians do not want nist rifles and machine guns, Signor Alvaro’s democracy. Most of them do. and are labor- concern puzzled me. But recent events have ing to make it work; but Italy’s new demo- proved him correct. Today, a new Fascism cratic government, faced with huge problems is on the upswing in Italy — and may shortly and bewildered by dissension, is failing them. make a strong bid for power. With chaos threatening and a stern winter coming, Italians are clamoring for quick relief. Tlwjr Work ia tht Open In Florence, I heard a shopkeeper say: "For wife and five One night last April, four men broke into my children I get three pounds of — a grave near Milan and stole Mussolini's bread a day just four small, crusty loaves — and once a week two body. They left a letter. "The Duce is among pounds of spaghetti. For the us again," it read. “The time will come when rest, we must go to the Black Market. Our the Duce in his coffin will parade through the only salvation,” he finished, smacking his fist mi the streets of Italy... The letter was signed, counter, “is a go-getter who “Democratic Fascist Party.” will give us something to eat.” Now the thieves are in but in Gonzia jail; M«ia ProbWm Is rood recently, mobs shouting “Duce!” tried to break up an anti-Fascist demonstration. The Food is at the heart of Italy’s entire prob- new Fascism does not work underground — lem of rehabilitation. To get food, her indus- it tries operates openly. must turn out farm machinery for use Italy’s Communists are far from beaten. at home and manufactured goods fen- sale But when Stalin haded Tito's to abroad. To start her factories humming, how- Trieste, which Italians passionately want ever, she must have coal. But even the tons to keep, he knocked the props from un- 120,000 of coal Italy is capable of pro- der them. Their prestige wrecked, the Com- ducing each month cannot be mined because miners have munists polled only 4,287,000 votes out of had to stop work and scrounge a total of 22,000,000 in the election of the new for food for their families. Republican Constituent Assembly—less than Since then, the bread ration has been cut 20 per cent. The Socialists alone collected nearly in half. Italians get fewer than 1,000 387,000 more. But the biggest surprise of all calories a day if they eat on their ration cards was Giannini’s neo-Fasdst party, tW “Com- — fewer than any other people in Europe. mon Man Front,” which amassed the surpris- American soldiers get 3,600. ing total of 1,198,000 votes and 30 seats in the Already, before I left Rome, the huge flocks new Constituent — five fewer of Assembly only pigeons that once delighted tourists m St. than Mussolini won in the last election before Peter’s Square had nearly disappeared. I the march on Rome in 1922. Continued on next page SIM0OW OF MOSSOUM hovers over ambitious Guglielmo Giannini BY LAWBENCE W. SBENFIELB .

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