them Signor Mussolini, who, for instance, defined the port arrangement and the cession of Porto Baros to Jugoslavia as "a diabolical plan" and "the ruin of Fiume.'' XII.-A PARTY POLICE. Strength. Before the war, the Italian police force consisted of 28,100 carabineers, and 10,400 gendarmes, a total of 38,500. After the war there was created the Guardia Regia ("Royal Guards"), wit an initial strength of 25,000 men, subsequently increased. All the parliamentary reports demanded the unification of the police forces, their diminution in strength, and their improvement in quality. 1'he Fascist Government herd no liking for the Guardia Regia, and abolished it accordingly-not without disturbances, revolts, and executions; but the carabineers, of whom Mussolini has publicly stated that they were friendly to the Fascists even before the arrival of the latter in power, have been increased· in strength to 78,000 (now to be reduced to 67,000); and there has been instituted the National Militia of the first proclan1ation, 200,000 strong, with no sort of legal or parliamentary authority; a total of 278,000 men. Functions and Selection. Mussolini's UnderSecretary declared in his programme speech of February 4, 1923, that the Guardia Regia had been abolished as '' its primary function was the purely factious one of supporting the party in power.'' I-Iowever, under the decrees of January 14~ 1923, _and later dates, the new Fascist Gover~ment instituted a definitely political police '' under the orders of the Premier,'' and enrolled exclusively ''through the organisation of the Fascist party'' (declaration of General De Bono). · The National Militia is composed entirely of Fascists, enrolled under various proclamations. The Grand BibliotecaGino Bianco
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