THE INTERNAL CRISIS OF FASCISM 141
throughout the country against the high cost of living, led
this time by the fascists. In Trieste fascist squads boarded
the boats from I stria with cargoes of vegetables and fruit
and forced the peasants to sell at very low prices. In
Naples they imposed a reduction of 50 per cent in the cafes
and restaurants. In Florence the squads paraded the streets
with banners, c Producers and shopkeepers ! Prices must
go down within two days ! 5 Violence was on the increase,
and the fascists often made something on their own account
by exacting ransom from shopkeepers who wanted to be
left in peace. Mussolini approved, though making certain
reservations to prevent the application of fixed scales so
as not to alarm his financial backers too much. c We must
not lose sight, at this stage, of one of the fundamentals of
fascism, the abolition of all war economy, all state inter-
vention in business, and the establishment of economic
liberty, conditions necessary and adequate for a return to
normal conditions.3 This was the argument of big business.
But since a new ministry was being formed, Mussolini
tried to prepare opinion for a fascist participation in the
government, with Salandra, Meda, and even, if necessary,
with Giolitti. e The attitude of the fascist parliamentary
group towards the Giolitti ministry,' he declared on
June 8, c might in certain circumstances be modified.5
And up till June 27, the day Giolitti was defeated in the
Chamber, he left his way in this direction open. He felt
he was near his goal, and did not want the newly elected
fascists and the old reactionaries to spoil his success. c I
am always on the watch/ he declared for the benefit of
friends and enemies, c particularly when a changing wind
fills the sails of my ship of fortune.3 At the meeting of the
parliamentary fascist group on June 3, however, although
he got his own way in the matter of the c republican trend \
he failed to impose abstention from the c royal3 session.
By 18 votes to 15 the group decided that deputies should
have a free hand.1
At the beginning of July the peace pact negotiations were
started,2 and on this point Mussolini joined issue with the
1 The National Council, which was held at the same time, approved
Mussolini's wishes on the other hand.
2 P. 139-