It is now possible to judge, to some extent at
any rate, the amount - of damage which the Matteotti case has done to Fascism°. Mussolini's speech on July- 22nd, at the Grand Fascist Council, and various reports and accounts, 'ranging from the- admirable - article in the Times of rhursday; July 24th, froth its' 'Rome -corre- spondent, to Mr. Lovat Fraser's- eulogy of Mussolini in the Daily Mail,-have given us some -idea- of the present state of Italy. The ultimate conclusion of the best opinion seems to be that Faseismo has undoubtedly been shaken, but that Mussolini himself still retains the confidence of the country. True, this confidence 'in him is largely based on his promise- of " normalization," and it is agreed that he will find this task an almost super- human one. The Times correspondent goes so far as to say that normality and Fascismo - are practically contra- dictory ideals, and- that to attain the former Mussolini would have to break his party. " But," he concludes, " . . . support by the non-political masses and by all that is best in Fascism° may yet give him the resolution to break it in-order to remould it nearer to the heart's desire of all good Italians."
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