234 THE RISE OF ITALIAN FASCISM
alternatives : ( Either the state absorbs fascism or fascism
absorbs the state.5 Did he mean by this that fascism was
ready to join the state, to obey the law and share the respon-
sibility of power ? That had been Mussolini's attitude in
April/ but now the same phrases did not bear the same
meaning. This is what Signor Lupi had to explain. Fascism
did not want equality of rights within the framework of a
state that guaranteed similar equality to all parties and all
its citizens. Fascism rejected the idea of a state that was
c restricted by such absurd limitations of neutrality ' ; the
party would join the state if it became a party-state. The
state must follow a fascist policy : ( To settle the present
crisis,5 declared Signor Lupi, c the nation's enemies must
be routed. If the present ministry is incapable of doing so,
fascism will press on with enthusiasm and faith to accomplish
the national task that has been entrusted to it by God and
by Destiny.' Mussolini's own style is easily recognizable
in this peroration. Two years ago he had spat upon £ every
form of Christianity' ; now he invoked God through his
spokesman, while he announced his intention of carrying
on his drive against the socialists and the workers. This
invocation of God—coupled with Destiny, since some god
has to be found for those who do not believe in God—was
intended to disarm the Vatican, and was soon to bear fruit.
Two days later the National Council of the Fascist Party
reassembled in Milan to consider the situation. Michele
Bianchi, the secretary-general of the party, stated that recent
events had shown that fascism possessed * greater strength
than had been imagined'. c Our victory, for which we
cannot adequately thank our enemies/ said Grandi
ironically., c has been shattering, complete beyond all
expectation.' Everybody agreed with Bianchi and Mussolini
that fascism must be merged into the state, either by legal
means through new elections, or if necessary by direct
action. The seizure of power had become an urgent neces-
sity, and Mussolini's impatience matched the demands of
the movement. The fact was that the destruction of the
socialist organizations had thrown on to the hands of the
fascists tens of thousands of workers, and they had no idea
1 P. 194-