X
THE MARCH ON ROME
A FTER the ' legalitarian' strike parties and politicians
L\ expected a few months respite, to adapt themselves
JL jLto the new conditions and decide on their tactics
for the reassembly of parliament in the autumn, when
everything would at last be settled. Giolitti had only
intervened in June and saved Facta because he reckoned
on getting into power after the recess and holding fresh
general elections in the spring ; although he meant first to
strike a heavy blow at the socialists and Popolari by abolishing
proportional representation. This would make it possible
to form a coalition government in which the socialists, or
at least some of the leaders of the General Confederation
of Labour, would be only too glad to take part. His general
idea was to carry on with the plan already begun in May
1921, and this time there was a chance of success, thanks to
the achievements of the fascists, the new split in the Socialist
Party—now well under way—and the possibility of a return
to majority elections.
Accordingly when the second Facta ministry met the
Chamber on August 9 it easily secured a majority. Although
it contained neither socialists nor fascists it was a thoroughly
patchwork affair, comprising friends of Giolitti and Nitti,
Popolari^ * national3 socialists, genuine democrats like
Ameiidola, and right-wing extremists like Riccio. It was as
chaotic as the state of affairs it was supposed to be dealing
with, and, existing as it did only through the weakness and
mutual tolerance of its members, it had no strength at all.
The fascists took part in the discussion on the government's
programme, but this time Mussolini put up an obscure
deputy to state his point of view. In the set speech that had
been prepared for him Signor Dario Lupi put forward the
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