The Great Wash

The black shirt, it has been frequently alleged, was adopted by the Fascisti on account of its utilitarian color. Premier Benito discovered, however, that certain kinds of spots show up most plainly, and to the quiescent but intense discomfiture of thousands of Fascisti, he ordered the first general wash of black shirts.

The stain which Benito was endeavoring so nobly to remove from the Black Shirts (the Fascisti) was made by the supposed murder of Deputy Giacomo Matteotti by some Fascisti (TIME, June 23 et seq.). The whole story has now come to be known as the "Matteotti Affair," and with that affair Benito was over-busy during the past week.

With angry shouts from the Opposition ringing in his ears, with the stench of political dissatisfaction offending his nostrils and with sympathy paraded for Matteotti torturing his vision, Benito set to work to clear up the situation in his own terse way. He made the following speeches:

To the Cabinet. At a Council of Ministers, he referred to his decision to remain in office and added: "I believe that in that way I will best serve the interests of Italy, which must 'be preserved from the shock and unrest which would certainly accompany a Cabinet crisis at this moment."

To the Senate. Benito's speech was to the effect that he saw no reason why the Fascist Government should resign because it had suffered from the regrettable Matteotti affair.

Referring to the Fascist militia, Benito said: "The militia has been most useful to us in the present crisis. These soldiers of ours remained solid and faithful and ready to defend the Government if any one had accepted the proposals of the subversive parties. The militia will remain. This is a matter on which I will not compromise.

"As, however, many insinuations have been made because it does not swear faithfulness to the King, though standing guard over the King's palace and participating in parades in honor of the Sovereigns, in future it shall swear faithfulness to the King."

The Senators were so impressed by Benito that they approved his speech by 245 to 4 votes. The following vote of confidence was also passed by 225 to 21 votes: "The Senate, after listening to the speech of Premier Mussolini, approves the proposals made by him expressing the will to proceed with all energy to a complete reestablishment of the laws of the country and to the execution of operations necessary for the pacification of the country."

To the Chamber. In his speech, Benito declared: "The Opposition is meeting in several cities of Italy, whence they advance their demands. These demands include resignation of the Government, dissolution of the Fascist militia and of Parliament and immediate general elections. They even push their impudence so far as to specify that the elections shall be held with the system of proportional representation.

"Whether these demands are formulated, as at present, in private meetings of various parties, or whether they be formulated in the future by the Parliamentary representatives of these parties, I, in the name of the Government and of Fascismo, answer 'No' I answer 'No' firmly, categorically, solemnly and inflexibly. . . .

"I submit to your earnest consideration the situation in which Parliament now finds itself. The Opposition parties have withdrawn from Parliament. The question is whether this withdrawal is permanent or purely temporary, and therein lies the difficulty of the situation . . . This much is certain, however, that we will not allow ourselves to be black mailed in this way by the Opposition. Withdrawal of the Opposition does not necessarily mean that Parliament must be closed. . . .

"You, who have witnessed my Government's efforts -- you, who know the program which the Government wishes to follow, can rest easy with the clear consciousness that if the crisis grows worse instead of better, public opinion and history cannot throw the blame on us." Opposition. The parties of the Opposition were not to be quieted by Benito's promises of reform. They met in plenary session to damn Fascismo, to lay the blame for the Matteotti affair at the door of the Government, to demand the abolition of the Fascist militia, to ask in veiled language for Benito's resignation, to state that they would not attend Parliament again "as long as the present conditions prevail."

The resolutions made only two main demands: abolition of the Fascist militia ; repression of violence and application of the law. With regard to Resolution No. 1, Benito had agreed to incorporate the Fascist militia with the Army, to make it swear fealty to the King, to open membership to all Parties. He had, in his speeches to the Senate and Chamber, himself proposed to carry out Resolution No. 2.

It was felt, therefore, that Benito had weathered the storm. If newspaper despatches were uncensored, as it was stated they were, Benito's popularity was returning.