Rome

The Congress of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance opened at Rome. It is the largest that has ever been held, over 1,000 delegates " from all lands " having assembled. Signor Mussolini, opposed to feminism and woman suffrage in Italy, but appreciating advertising, provided Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt (President) with a guard of honor of Fascisti.

The Congress was preceded by a congress of the National Council of Italian Women, and by the congress of the International Alliance for Female Suffrage.

The present Congress desired, at the instance of the French and German delegations, to discuss the subject of peace, but it was reported that this subject will be barred owing to the opposition of the Italian delegation, who feel that it should be " left for a separate congress."

At the opening session Mrs. Catt turned to Benito Mussolini, who occupied a seat on the platform. " Signor Mussolini, you are the most talked-of man in all the world today. . . . Men tell us that you stand for order, for unity, for patriotism, for a better and higher civilization. These are our ideals, too. . . . We have asked the civilized governments of the world to endorse our program. We ask this Government

to do so. . . . For Italy is now

among the minority on the woman question. . . ."

Said Mussolini in answer: " I feel authorized in stating that the Fascisti Government pledges itself to grant a vote to several classes of women, beginning with the local vote and then a national vote."