New No. 2 Man

As Duce ("Leader") of the Fascist Party, Benito Mussolini ripped open in his office one morning last week a letter from the next-most-important man in Italy, the secretary general of the one-&-only Party. Text:

Duce:

A year and a half ago I begged you to let me return to the ranks without asking position or pension. You responded with an order to remain. I obeyed then, as was my duty. But today, at the beginning of the ninth Fascist year, I must repeat that wish. Almost five years of direction of the party are long and exhausting for whoever wishes with all his heart to work in the rhythm that you have impressed on Italian life.

Duce, permit therefore that I return into the ranks to be alone a little with myself and with the proud consciousness of having served you and the cause of the revolution well.

Devotedly, Augusto Turati.

Replying to "Devoted Augusto" the quill pen of august Benito traced in stiffest. most formal Italian:

Signor:

I recognize that after nearly five years of uninterrupted, fecund activity you have almost the right to ask a change in order to re-enter the ranks of the Black Shirts. It is not without regret, however, that I fulfill your desires.

You have directed the party, that is to say, the backbone of the regime, during a period rich with memorable events. What you have accomplished is in the Black Shirt spirit and this will be recognized and developed by me on Oct. 8 at Vidoni Palace in the act of handing over the charge.

In this moment, Fascisti of all Italy, salute with me the comrade, Augusto Turati, and confirm this, that he is well merited of the cause of Fascist revolution.

Benito Mussolini

The date Oct. 8 will bring to secretary generalship of the Fascist Party whom? Though Il Duce's letter did not touch upon this point the Prime Minister soon pronounced Italy's new next-to-most-important name:

GIOVANNI BATTISTA GIURIATI

He is 54. He lost an arm in the War. He was with D'Annunzio at the snatching of Fiume. In his native Venice he was "Fascist" before Fascism (i. e. he had founded a reactionary party of his own which he gladly merged with Benito's Black Shirts when they were banded).

Of course he was with Il Duce on the "March to Rome." In 1924, during the Royal Italian Naval Cruise, he blossomed as "Ambassador Extraordinary to South America." Next year he became Minister of Public Works. Last year 77 Duce made him President of the Chamber of Deputies.

Why Turati out? Why Giuriati in? Not five people in Italy knew for certain last week, possibly not four. Might loves mys tery. But this set of facts was clear:

For a Fascist, devoted Augusto Turati is remarkably mild, even reasonable, conciliatory. He was made secretary general in 1926 to tone down the excesses of his predecessor, Roberto Farinacci, notorious leader of Fascist Selvaggi ("Savages") who blustered about Italy smashing doors, knocking out teeth, kicking pits of stomachs. Today, with the Fascist Party comparatively civilized, there is talk in Rome that Civilizer Turati is perhaps "too mild." His successor is not. Up and down Italy nervous people know that Giovanni Battista Giuriati has metaphorically bashed and smashed from Fiume to the Quirinal. But, "man of iron" though he is, the new secretary general's head is comparatively clear. He will scarcely make such a mistake as the Fascist murder of Socialist Deputy Giacomo Matteotti in 1924--the crime which nearly wrecked Il Duce's regime. (TIME, June 23, 1924 et seq.).

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