(Published in Il Popolo d'Italia, April 30, 1921)
By Benito Mussolini
The revolt of Carnizza in Istria and the episode of Bolzano are facts which should more energetically be brought to Italian public attention, and especially to the attention of Fascists, before it is too late. By bringing our border to the Brenner, as is ethnically, geographically, historically and morally correct, a mass of Germans, who number approximately 150-160,000, have become part of the Italian State. Immediately after the military occupation of South Tyrol, the Italian government could have and should have proceeded to reduce the mass of Germans of South Tyrol to a more modest size. This measure, which the French have widely adopted in Alsace, was not taken by us; not only that, but all those who had left South Tyrol have now safely returned, seeing that everything now is just as it was before, and even better than before.
The Italian authorities have been benevolent in every way with the German population; fed them; changed the krone to sixty cents in a time when the krone was "dead" and worth less than one cent; aided the Republic of Austria; greeted the quasi-sovereign Chancellor Renner with honors; and, above all, left intact, well-preserved and protected all signs of the old regime, all signs of the Hapsburgs. And to top it off, Mr. Credaro was sent to govern Venezia Tridentina. Now he may be a very good man, but he is devoid of all the skills necessary to govern a bilingual region in difficult times.
It is superfluous to outline once again the situation created in South Tyrol thanks to the folly and cowardice of the Italian Government. These few words should sum it up: continuous humiliation for the Italian element; arrogance and bullying by the German element. If there is more time, we would like to carve out from the collection of German journals in South Tyrol all the slanders printed against Italy and Italians during that period; and you would see how our liberty and generosity has been used by people who are accustomed to the harsh rod of old discipline. But poor Credaro is a democratic-positivist. As such he believes in some mysterious principles that would apply to all people and for all ages; whereas the harsh experience should teach him — or should have taught him — that Italians are treated in one way and the Germans in another; that which is good south of Salorno, is bad north of Salorno; Latin courtesy is interpreted by the Germans as a weakness and as devotion, and the Germans do not treat others with kid gloves, but with an iron fist. And the Germans also prefer to be treated in this manner, in accordance with their unique psychology.
The Germans do not understand invitation, exhortation, prayer. All this is true for us. But the Germans feel order and empire. Is it not already symptomatic that the German Republic is called Reich? Does not this designation demonstrate the psychological element that we have mentioned? The result is that the entire policy of the Italian government in South Tyrol has been "psychologically" wrong; it follows that, at a given moment, the "falsity" of the situation was bound to precipitate an episode of blood. The ignoble absence of the State had to end in order to arouse a nuclei of citizens to replace the cowardly State. Thus also in Bolzano there arose the Fascio di Combattimento. Some hesitated regarding the usefulness of the Fascio, because it was hoped that the Germans would resign themselves to the fact of Italian governance and it was thought that our authority would be reaffirmed, but these hopes were demolished. The Pan-Germanists of South Tyrol accentuated their campaign against Italy, while in Munich and Berlin — which must constantly be pointed out to the Italian leaders and foolish Germanophiles — they staged irredentistic demonstrations demanding a German border at Salorno, intending to expand it to Ala in Trentino, and perhaps even to Verona.
At this point Fascism came upon the scene, which is the supreme guard the nation. Mr. Credaro can continue to play the part of the wavering or mortifying master for as long as he likes. But the Fascists speak clearly, both to the Italians and to the Germans of South Tyrol and every other country. We uphold the prestige of the Italy of Vittorio Veneto and we are willing once again to shout "away!". Fascism, on behalf of its four hundred thousand perfectly disciplined and framed members, decided to act according to these directives. First, fraternal solidarity with the Fascists of Venezia Tridentina. Second, establishment of other nuclei both south and north of Salorno. All Fascists who can travel to South Tyrol, whether for a short time or a long time, must do so. Fight mercilessly against the cowardly Italian authorities. Destroy everything that reminds you of Austria. If the Fascists of Venezia Tridentina commit themselves to combat, then the Fascists of all Italy will know their duty: to immediately rush to the aid of their comrades. Fascists are distinguished for their exceptional mobility. There will be no further orders.
What is written here is valid forever. The Germans of South Tyrol take note. We will not repeat ourselves. We will not write any more articles. The Germans think that all Italians are soft pasta-eaters like Mr. Credaro. They are very mistaken! The bomb of Bolzano is the first solemn warning. The victorious war has attracted new generations of Italians who are strong, disciplined, audacious. They are the Fascist generation, they are the generation that will convince the Germans who unlawfully dwell in South Tyrol that the Brenner is ours and we will never leave, because this is the border marked by God, this is the border achieved at the cost of immense sacrifices by the Italian people, and this is the border that Dante, Mazzini, Battisti and five hundred thousand dead have tasked the living with the duty of defending at all costs.
