865.044/34
The Chargé in Italy (Robbins) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 25.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith a copy in translation of the new Statutes of the Fascist Organizations abroad (Fasci all’Estero) as published in the Italian press on February 5, 1928.8 The Statutes bear Mussolini’s signature and the provisions embodied therein, or “commandments of the Duce” as they are called here, are said to have been worked out by Mussolini himself.
Signor Piero Parini, the new Secretary General of the Fascist Organizations abroad (See weekly report No. 1544 of January [Page 108] 20, 1928)8a comments on the new Statutory regulations in an article published in Il Legionario, the organ of the Fascist Organizations abroad, of which the principal passage runs as follows:
“The Statutes which the Duce has dictated for the Italian Fasci Abroad are our faith and our law. The word of the Duce is a commandment which does not admit of gloss or of interpretations of any kind. The Duce has established the law which must be obeyed from now on by the fascists abroad. Up to today the foreign Fasci have lacked a set of precise regulations. Our duty is now clear; and the fascists abroad, the good fascists (happily there are many of these) know it and feel it. The Duce aims to develop the Fasci abroad into a disciplined and powerful organization, which must be the soul of our colonies. The Fascist Organizations abroad must gradually become identified with the colonies themselves, which shall be stirred to new life by Fascism. These objectives can easily be attained if we be at all times what the Duce wishes us to be.”
Considerable importance is attached here to the new Statutes which, according to the Messaggero, mark the beginning of a new phase of activity for the Fascist Organizations throughout the world. The regulations of the Statutes are such that every possible inconvenience or abuse is automatically eliminated. Hereafter the control of the Secretariat General over the individual “Fasci” abroad will be more direct, more efficacious, and more salutary. All useless and dangerous interference will also be eliminated. The “Fasci” will come under the immediate control of the diplomatic and consular authorities and, therefore, of the National Government. “We are certain,” concludes the Messaggero, “that through the decisive will of Piero Parini, every Italian throughout the world will be made to observe the new by-laws of the foreign fascist organizations with inestimable moral and material advantage to our industrious and prosperous colonies and with the consequent furtherance of our national prestige.”
According to La Tribuna, “the new Statutes consolidate all that which has been achieved in the past with so much effort.”
It seems clear that these new orders centralize and strengthen the control over the Fascists abroad by the central home organization. I am told by one of the active younger members of the Fascist Party here that it has resulted from considerable bickering and misunderstanding between the local leaders of the Fascist Party in the Italian colonies and the Chiefs of Diplomatic Missions and Consuls, for in some cases it has been found that the Chiefs of Missions or Consuls have been dominated by the Fascist leaders of their respective colonies. Indeed, I am reliably informed that in one European post the Italian [Page 109] Minister, who is apparently not a strong Fascist, was continually in fear of criticism and complaint at home by the Fascist leader of his own colony.
It would appear that in putting the direction of Fascism abroad in the hands of the Italian Diplomatic Agents and Consuls the above-mentioned situation will no longer occur. One may also deduce that in the future no diplomatic representatives or Consuls other than strong Fascists will be employed.
I have [etc.]