Mussolini And MI5: Documents Reveal Italy's Fascist Dictator Was Once British Agent

The Guardian:

Archived documents have revealed that Mussolini got his start in politics in 1917 with the help of a £100 weekly wage from MI5.

For the British intelligence agency, it must have seemed like a good investment. Mussolini, then a 34-year-old journalist, was not just willing to ensure Italy continued to fight alongside the allies in the first world war by publishing propaganda in his paper. He was also willing to send in the boys to "persuade'' peace protesters to stay at home.

Read the whole story: The Guardian

Comments

[thepoliticalcat]

Because, of course, the corporatocrats wanted to c. rush the workers' movements springing up all over the world, demanding rights for labour, they got into bed with Musso and his ilk. And how surprised they were when the Law of Unintended Consequences intervened and the monsters slipped the leash.

[tierone]

This surprises anyone?

Shades of Saddam Huessien.

[Gasparilla]

And we had an alliance with Russia during WW2. Sometimes you do what you have to do. It doesn't mean you want to.

[thepoliticalcat]

Oh, please. That was cold-blooded policy on the part of the British and Americans. Throw the vast Soviet population into the meatgrinder against Germany, thereby saving themselves and crippling the workers' rights movements worldwide that looked to the newly liberated Russia and China for guidance.

[HekmabaJuzimax]

Think the Allies and the Axis powers are strange bedfellows? Think again.

[Rog49Thomas]

"What a man! I have lost my heart!... Fascism has rendered a service to the entire world... If I were Italian, I am sure I would have been with you entirely from the beginning of your victorious struggle against the bestial appetites and passion of Leninism."

Quote attributed to W. Churchill after a 1927 visit to Rome.

[ChristopherAtom]

If it's true, that would really put a crumpet in things. Looks like a certain Queen has some splaining to do.

[LegalWeed]

In my opinion, Mussolini, thankfully, won the war (II that is) for the Allies by his ill fated invasions of the Balkans and Western Desert, both of which forced Hitler to divert resources that otherwise would have been used in German offensives and might have swayed the issue....

[Rog49Thomas]

And the Kaiser's Government gave Lenin and others a free train ride to Russia about the same time.

That didn't make Lenin a German agent.

[Godweiser]

It's not surprising, but the article leaves out a significant piece of information -- how long did MI5 continue the payments to Mussolini. That's the curious question.

I can see why they supported him in 1917 and kept it going -- the war wasn't going so hot in 1917, even with the American entry, the strategic situation was grim, and if Italy went neutral, it would meant the Germans and Austrians had one less front to worry about (recall what else happened in early 1917 that already was providing breathing room for the Central Powers.

Of course, there is a question of why the UK didn't use that information to their advantage in the 1920's-1940's, or if they actually did.

There's a whole slew of interesting aspects to this information that I want to know about.

[pup sydney]

Italy you said went neutral?
where do u get that info?
neutral? italy fought until the end
after the victory of tha battle of Vittorio Veneto Italy got the upper hand on their own front. please do not insult the thousand of dead for their own country.
Italy has not only a history of fascism there was Italy before Mussolini too.

[Godweiser]

For Chrissakes, read the freakin' comment. "and if Italy went neutral,"

Put on some specks!

[JohnBryansFontaine]

Does this mean that Ernst Stavro Blofeld was also on MI5's payroll?

[DCato]

"Mussolini's payments were authorised by Sir Samuel Hoare, an MP and MI5's man in Rome"
So now we know, Mussolini was willing to Hoare himself out.

[1differentdrummer]

Mussolini: the prototype Republican.

[pup sydney]

another example of how nobody is better thanthou in this world

[zola77]

How interesting. I vaguely remember learning about Britain providing material support for Fascist Italy (at least in the formative stages) at uni.

[Rog49Thomas]

To combat the Bolshies ...

[HamletsMill]

Of course. There is very, very big money in war and you have to do whatever it takes to keep it going. Hitler also started out as a paid agent of the German Army to spy on nearby political groups. Just one big happy family for everybody.