ITALY: New Party

Since Benito has been trying, so far without much success, to effect a rapprochement between the Vatican and the State, the Partita Popolare, or Catholic Party, has had a hard road to hoe. (See page 18.)

Under the leadership of the ardent English and the French are different, and in a way complementary to each other. We are both free peoples and strong peoples, and ought to be united, but we have reached liberty by different routes; the French by principles and proclamations, the English by the gradual extension of the rights of the individual—which is, after a fashion, the way their people express in public life their love of comfort."

The Spectator (London), independent Conservative weekly, contained this statement: "This is a new reading of English history, under which Magna Charta and the Bill of Rights become simply the public expression of the Englishman's dislike of discomfort and inconvenience— not by any means an unattractive reading!" priest, Don Sturzo, the Party professed undying hostility to Benito; but, because the Premier was trying to conciliate the Catholics, many members of the Party sympathized with him, seceded, became political nonentities.

To regularize this situation, the seceders met at Bologna, home of the sausage of that name, founded the Italian National Centre Party, with a program identical to that of the Partita Popolare, except that it was decided to support the Fascist Government.

Benito beamed, encouraged the new Party, hoped that it would knock edgeways the adherents of little Don Sturzo.