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bark on a two-billion-dollar rearmament program. In net result, Mussolini has used the challenge of Ethiopian war to establish his bargaining power in Europe, and, more particularly, to persuade other nations to give him a free hand in the Balkans. For Mussolini’s aim, ever since he seised power in 1922, has been an empire of southeastern Europe under his dynasty.
Then Mr. Motherwell proceeds to describe what he believes will be the certain diplomatic victories as well as war victories of Mussolini in the troubled Balkan States, with the realignment of those States for their preserva tion, concluding at last with this most significant para graph :
Early in the story Mussolini will take his place in the federal organization with some such innocent title as Honorary President of the Council. But with the first serious split in policy, he will throw his sword on the table (probably literally) and declare himself something equivalent to Executive Director. And presently he will hear a unanimous demand that he be no longer merely representative of the king of Italy, but Emperor. He loves titles, but as a practical politician he knows that the common people love titles even more than he. And so, Emperor of Southeastern Europe!
The “Emperor of Southeastern Europe” can only be the Emperor of a restored Roman Empire! Now, had some believer and expounder of Biblical prophecy written that, modernistic minds would have accused him of delib erately trying to portray the present situation in Europe so that it would fit into the great Biblical prophecies. But it was none other than a hard-boiled, worldly, newspaper correspondent who prophesied the near coming of the “Emperor of Southeastern Europe.” W hat H appened in R ome on M ay 9, 1936? We wonder whether even devout believers realize just what happened in old Rome on May 9, 1936. Mussolini stood there on his balcony at the Palazzo Venezia, in Caesarian pride and glory, conscious of the fact that he had not only subjugated Ethiopia, but conscious also of a fact of infinitely greater importance—that he had subjugated the League of Nations and had successfully challenged the nations of all the earth. He stood there, supremely alive to the fact that he had accomplished in seven months a task that the ancient Caesars, mighty as they were, had failed to accomplishS-he had conquered the fabled kingdom of the Queen of Sheba! He stood there, sweetly conscious that he had accomplished what the whole modern world had declared could not be done in so short a time. Then, with tumultous cheers resounding from the throats of tens upon tens of thousands of Italians whose exultation was akin to worship, the new triumphant Caesar shouted:
— Pictures Incorporated. Mussolini, as he appeared recently, standing on the Palazzo Venezia when he called upon his vast audience to "salute the reappearance of the empire on the fateful hills of Rome." Motherwell may little realize it, but his conclusion is of intensest interest to any one who ponders the prophecies of the living God. We quote: Mussolini, who in reality is so candid that his enemies think he is bluffing, specified in a speech before the Italian Chamber of Deputies on May 26, 1927: “Italy's fundamental task is to bring to fighting strength all her armed forces, on land, on the sea and in the air. She must be able, at a given moment, to mobilise five million men fully armed. She must strengthen her navy. And her airplanes must be so many and so powerful that the whir of their motors zvill drown out every sound on our peninsula and their wings will blot out the sun from our land. We shall then be able, when some time between 1935 and 1940 we shall have arrived at a point which I should call crucial in the history of Europe, to make our voice heard and our rights recognised." The year 1935 arrived, and Italian armies, warships and airplanes began to take their place as front-page news, Promptly on schedule, Mussolini launched his challenge “to make Italy’s voice heard” and “to see Italy’s rights at last recognized.” For the triple pur pose of demolishing the prestige of the League of Nations, detaching France from England, and nulli fying British supremacy in the Mediterranean, he launched his sinister Ethiopian war. He has already won on two and a half fronts. The League’s prestige is abolished. . . . France is effectively detached from Great Britain. When Italy threatened Britain’s sea power in the Mediterranean recently, France hesitated to come un reservedly to Britain’s aid, because she might need Italy’s help in a future clash with Germany. When France, more recently, needed Britain’s help against Germany, Britain hesitated because she might need Germany’s help some day. On the third front, Mussolini won half the deci sion, or perhaps 51 per cent. Great Britain did not close the Suez Canal and did not challenge Italy’s power to cut the life line of empire with her sub marines and airplanes across the 90-mile channel from Sicily to Africa. Instead, Britain retired, with a loss of grace hardly perceptible in the newspapers, to em .
Officers, noncommissioned officers, privates, all armed forces of the state in Africa and Italy, Italians, men and women! The Italian people have created an empire with their blood I They will fertilize it with their work and will defend it against any one with their menl With this supreme assurance, raise on high your ensigns, your swords, your hearts! A fter fifteen centuries , salute the reappearance OF THE EMPIRE ON THE FATEFUL HILLS OF ROME1
This speech was followed a week later by the official decree setting forth King Victor Emmanuel as “Emperor of Rome.” As the frenzied masses shouted, “Hail the Emperor!” recalling the “Ave Caesar” of centuries ago, the little, mustached, modern Caesar smiled and seemed highly pleased. But, can any one be so deceived by those appar ently nice little political and diplomatic hypocrisies as not to know who the Emperor of this restored Empire is to be, according to Mussolini’s plans ? Can any one imagine that Mussolini acted in good faith when he proclaimed King Victor Emmanuel the Caesar of this resurrected empire? Imagine the modest and unassuming king, who, when the
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