by local associations out of purchases of supplies were appropriated to the State. (d) Autonomy of Minority Populations. Respect for the autonomous local authorities of the New Provinces was assumed everywhere by both the letter and the spirit of the Treaty of St. Germain, and was formally pro1nised in the decree of annexation. Above all, it was explicitly required by the Law No. 1322 of September 26, 1920, ,vhich embodied the Royal decree No. 1804 of October 6, 1919. Article 4 of this law, in authorising the Governtnent to publish in the annexed territories the Italian Constitution and the rest of the Italian laws, and to co-ordinate them with the legislation in force in these territories, added : "in particular with their provincial and communal autonom.y. JJ The central and regional consultative committees, which contained representatives of the localities concerned in the New Provinces, directly appointed, and selected without distinction of political party, had also performed their duty in pronouncing in favour of the maintenance of the autonomous Provincial and Communal administrations. But the Fascist Government dissolved these committees and instituted fresh consultative committees, of which one-half consisted of political representatives of the New Provinces and the other half of members nominated by the Prime Minister. (R.oyal decree No. 1446, November 16, 1922.) Then, in direct contravention of Article 4 of the Law of September 26, 1920, and of the vote of the direct representatives of the New Provinces, Royal decree No. 9 of January 1 1, 1923, extended to the annexed territories the Italian Communal and Provincial law, and the regulations thereunder, with a few immaterial alterations. So was ended the promised autonomy of the New Provinces, and the hope of all who had sought to learn, 68 BibliotecaGino Bianco
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