councillor Nesti, and imposed on him an identical declaration and ~n equal dose of castor oiI. There remained the rector of Capolle, against whom the Fascists had already directed preliminary reprisals, which had their epilogue about 10 p.m. with a larg~ glassful of castor oil. On their way back the Fascists fell in ·with the Communist Vittorio Ballerini, who came to words with them but had the worst of the encounter, since he remained behind with a _few bumps on the head." Popolo d' Italia. (Mussolini's paper.) December 12. "We should like to have kissed on their sunlit brow those youngsters who stood on the outskirts of the town, stopped the citizens on their way out, and asked them if they had voted~ making them go back if they could not give this assurance. . . Even if some of the young innocents were cheekily parading in their girdles a big revolver or a little stiletto." (Milan local elections.) Popolo d' Italia. (Mussolini's paper.) ·. December 12. "Certain Chairmen of Councils who were over-pedantic or over-partisan have received certain efficacious correctives from the Fascists.'' Popolo d'Italia. (Mussolini's paper.) December 15. ''Certain tiny minorities of ignorant politicians who have not yet given up the battle have been trying to profit by my short absence. . . . In · any case, I ask the Council of Ministers to authorise me, from this moment onwards, to use whatever means seem to me most convenient against anyone, of whatever party, faction or sect, who attempts to produce disturbance or disorder in the country." Mussolini, speech to the Council of Ministers. December 15. "The Fascist Government cannot tolerate these attempts at resuming the offensive on any side, and where they do not immediately cease it may be reduced to the hard but inexorable necessity of repressing them quickly and vigorously. . . . This 73 Biblioteca Gino Bianco i
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