THE MARCH ON ROME 271
November 4, as arranged by the ex-servicemen in con-
junction with Facta, Orlando and Amendola. But as
early as October 25 his secretary, Coselschi, gave out in
Florence that the Poet was i very tired after the hard work
of the last few days ', that his doctors had ordered him rest
and that c in the circumstances it is impossible to guarantee
that he would be able to go to Rome on November 4, as he
would have liked '.
By signing this treaty Mussolini fostered the hopes of
members of the General Confederation of Labour and other
workers' organizations which they had begun to fix on
d'Anmmzio. The Federation of Maritime Workers, which
played such an important part from the technical point of
view, since it controlled practically all sea transport, would
no longer obstruct fascist action. Captain Giulietti, it was
announced in the Avanti, had even placed the ships of the
federation at Mussolini's disposal for the transport and
supplying of the fascist army in the event of a campaign in
Dalmatia. In case the advantages he expected turned out
disappointing or too many difficulties arose in the applica-
tion of the agreement, Mussolini had taken his usual
precautions. It did not come into full force for thirty days,
and before they were past the march on Rome or the
accession of the fascists to power by some other means would
have taken place. By then he would have no particular need
of d'Annunzio or Giulietti and he could maintain, transform,
or destroy the pact as circumstances demanded.
Giolitti was more difficult to dispose of. He was an
unimaginative man, and not a great initiator of policy. He
was quite willing to hold new elections, but not just yet ;
he would prefer the spring, after a few months of office.
Mussolini was negotiating with him through Lusignoli, the
prefect of Milan, who had already acted as intermediary
between them at the time of the action against Fiume.1
Giolitti wanted the fascists to join his cabinet and he insisted
that they should be represented there by Mussolini. But the
demands of the fascists, who felt or believed themselves to
be masters of the country, were more ambitious than a few
months ago, and this made negotiations difficult.
1 P. 84,