THE MARCH ON ROME 067
moment came, and he reserved the right to modify it at the
last minute to suit the circumstances. Rome could not be
annexed like any ordinary town or province occupied by
fascist squads. From such a step there could be no retreat.
Tremendous political skill was needed to allay the suspicions
and aggressiveness of rivals5 to gain fresh allies, and to ensure
the neutrality of the various armed forces of the state.
During the last three weeks before the march on Rome
Mussolini made frenzied efforts in every direction to ensure
such political advantages. He neglected nothing, from
d'Annunzio to Giolitti, Salandra to Nitti, the monarchy to
the republicans, the freemasons to the Vatican.
The first step, which he took charge of himself, was to
eliminate d'Annunzio. To do this he had to make him a
few concessions and let him think that he could go on playing
the part of the saviour of Italy, e without bloodshed and
without upheaval \ D'Annunzio was closely associated
with the Federation of Maritime Workers,, led by Captain
Giulietti, who had secured the return of Malatesta to Italy
and had helped greatly in the provisioning of Fiume.1 This
federation had placed itself under the protection of the
c Commandant' and made him large gifts of cash, which
were badly needed for the c franciscan ' retreat at Gardone.
After the fascist c conquest} of Genoa the federation was
threatened ; the local shipbuilders and the local fascist
leaders demanded its liquidation. At the beginning of
September a congress was held at Genoa by the € National
Maritime Corporation % a fascist organization which meant
to displace that led by Giulietti. Bianchi and Rossoni,
secretary of the fascist syndicates, were present, and
Mussolini sent a personal message. The congress decided
that war must be declared on Giulietti's federation, and also
called on the government to give up all its levies on excess
war profits and its demands on the shipbuilders, so as to
c help in the resumption of maritime activity \ for the
sake, of course, of the unemployed. Thus commenced a
desperate struggle which could only end in the victory
of the new fascist monopoly. Giulietti, however, was
cunning and though he hung on to d'Annunzio he began
1 P. 50.