gress racial barriers must fall as a means of keeping peoples divided. He remembered as a boy the romantic story of how the freedom and union of Italy had been won. He recalled the exploits of Garibaldi and Mazzini. The Italy of to-day was a great anticlimax. It has a tyranny that combined the worst features of tyrannies of the Bourbon and the Austrian. The assassination of Matteotti was an attack upon constitutional democracy. They stood there, to-day, resenting the outrage upon the free and independent liberties of the people. The days of national interest being preeminent were passing, and Australia had its relationship to Italy. There could not be a happy Australia in the midst of an unhappy Italy. The na0 tions were one--an injury to the people of one was an injury to all. Matteotti bravely stood against tyranny, and therefore they honored him. Thousands everywhere glorified in his sacrifice. (Cheers). Mr. R. S. Ross (Socialist Party) said that the liberty-lovers of the world were with the anti-Fascists. Each generation anew had apparently to win liberty. Those whom the odds were against generally secured the victory in the long run. Fascism was founded on force, born and bred in illegality. Fascism was not confined to Italy. In essence the Australian Crimes Act and certain Arbitration amendmentS were e·qually coercive and despotic in spirit as the decrees of a Mussolini. Mr. J. Shelley (Communist Party) said Capitalism to-day throughout the world was endeavoring to do in all countries what had been done in Italy. Matteotti understood Mussolini to a T. The workers of the world had to realise that Mussolini was obeying the dictates of the master class. The effort was being made to hold down the workers by violence and force. There was a danger in even Australia of a Mussolini. (Applause). Speaking in English, Comrade Bertazzin said that if he were speaking for weeks he could not convey in full the suffering of the people in Italy under Mussolini. Let them bear in mind that there were thousands of BibliotecaGino Banco Matteottis being flung into prisons and exile. But as Matteotti had said, "The idea never dies," and the idea and ideal of Freedom could not be conquered. The members of the Matteotti Club were all in the Unions. They did not deserve to be called "damned Dagoes," and he asked that the workers of Australia recognise that many·anti-Fascists were here because to be in Italy was impossible. Members of the opera companies had been warned by Blackshirts not to attend the meeting. The anti-Fascists stood for 'the liberty of Italy and for . the liberty of the world. 8 Dr. Omero Schiassi, officially charged by the committee of the commemoration to make the address, spoke in Italian at length, the sentiments being frequently applauded. The oration in part was read in English by Mr. 'Blackburn, and is to be circulated as a circular among Parliamentarians and others. Dr. Scpiassi was a personal friend of Deputy. Matteotti. In the course of this impressive oration tJ\e audience stood in silence for one minute in respect for the martyred dead. At its conclusion it was cheered to the echo. -The Labor Daily of Sydney, under the title, The Terrorism of FascismDr. Omero Schiassi Appeals to Australia, reproducing the speech almost in its. entirety says :-A lengthy and striking address was delivered in Melbourne by the Italian, Dr. Omero Schiassi at the New Gaiety Theatre on June 10. The address was given under the auspices of the Committee of the Anti-Fascist Concentration of Australasia in coinmemorati9n of the Great Martyr, Giacomo Matteotti. This add1·ess has been translated into English as an appeal to the people of Australia. The Union Voice of Melbourne reproduced the speech entirely. The daily newspapers, The Sun and The Age gave a fair account of the meeting. Several other weekly newspapers of Australasia reported accounts of the meeting and lengthy excerpts of the appeal. '
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