Page:The Modern Review (July-December 1925).pdf/753

Rh characteristic cleverness sent messages to prefects instructing them to take vigorous measures to prevent reprisals by Fascists and to see that Fascists abstained from violence against their adversaries. But Mussolini is not the man to be coerced with the threat of assassination. His attitude has become stiffer and now he wants to be super-King. The extraordinary legislation which he proposes to introduce in the Italian chamber gives the king the exclusive right to appoirt or dismiss the Prime-Minister, who in turn is virtually permitted to appoint or dismiss ministers. At the hand of a puppet King, Mussolini’s perpetual ministry is ensured, but the spiritof hatred and political assanssination may be once more rampant against the naked autocracy which Mussolinidesires to establish. The Fascist organisations are gradually spreading. They have their centresin England and the latest centre they have established is in Bombay. _

Agreement has been reached regarding the funding of the Italian debt to America in 62 years. The settlement removes the ban on loans to Italy.

The BALKANS

The Council of the League of Nations is to be congratulated an her timely intervention in the threatened war between Greece and Bulgaria. The Council hurriedly met in Paris and sent a sixty-four hous’ ultimatum to Greece and Bulgaria to withdraw their troops behind their national Frontiers. An inquiry into the Graeco-Bulgarian dispute by a Committee of the League was announced. The firm attitude of the League to appecl to its adherents to’ invade the countries of tha, belligerent nations in casé they do not ceas hostilities coerced Greece and Bulgaria into suk- mission to the League’s mandate. The dispute was left to the decision of the League. Tk League has thus justified its existence, but i is doubtful whether its intervention woull have been similarly successful in the cas of bigger powers.

SPAIN

Spain was not immune from internel outbreaks. The Directory of Primo Də Rivera has become unpopular and an attempt was made to overthrow the Directory anl establish a republic. The plot was discoverel before the conspirators could carryout theif plan. General Lopes, Oshon and Sousa, two Commanders of the Covadonga Regimen-, Colonels pardo and Segundo Carciate and some others ‘were arrested and cast inb Madrid prison. The Directory has taken severe steps against any uprising.

CHINA

It is a piece of ill-luck for China that hostility in that land never ceases. A mutinous Shantounz division fired on the White Russian brigada attached to Changtsolin’s troops from tha rear, whilst the Russian brigade was endec~ vouring to stem the advance of Wu Pri Fu’s men. The majority of three thousand Russian mercenaries were killed. The war i South China continues. Soviet Russia’s policy in South China has become partly successfu, as the Redsthere were gaining the upper hand at Kwangtung.

Such is the title of an article in Young India for November 5, 1925, by Mr. M. K. Gandhi, in which Rabindranath Tagore’s criticism of the Charkha in this Review has been commented upon. Mahatmaji begins by prefixing “Sir” to the poet’s name. He has often said and written that he does not read newspapers. That is perhaps the reason why he does not know that the poet renounced that title many years ago. But, as we learn from his article that he finds time to listen to Dame Rumour’s minions and to guess that the poet’s information on some points was gained from “table talk”, one may be curious to know whether Dame Rumour and “table talk” combined could not supply Mahatmaji with the news of the poet’s renouncement of his knighthood.

Gandhiji is right in asking to public to understand that “the Poet does not deny, its [the Charkha’s] economic