THE RISE OF ITALIAN FASCISM
c It is said that the fascists/ said the Cornere della Sera
of October 19, ' have asked for representation in the new
cabinet proportionate to their real strength in the country
and not merely to the number of seats they won at the
last elections ; that they have asked for three important
portfolios and the right to appoint a new foreign minister.
Giolitti, on the other hand, would like Mussolini to join
the government and would offer him a place as minister
without portfolio. As to the electoral reform, agreement
should not be difficult since Giolitti and Mussolini
both want a revision of the existing law to favour
absolute majorities, applying the proportional method to
minorities.'
On the same day the Popolo d* Italia denied the existence of a
political understanding between Mussolini and Giolitti, and
even denied that discussions had taken place, while Michele
Bianchi explained at Montecitorio that the negotiations had
fallen through because the fascists had not been offered
adequate representation. Actually relations between Musso-
lini and Giolitti were not broken off, but Giolitti announced
that he was prepared to form a government at all costs, even
without the fascists, if they insisted on their exorbitant con-
ditions. On October 23, when opening the session of the
provincial council of Goni, he explained his attitude towards
them :
c A new party has entered Italian political life, attended
by much commotion, violent in some parts of the country,
less so in others. There it should take the place to which
the number of its supporters entitles it; but by legal
means, which alone can give a party, within the con-
stitution, real and lasting authority, and which alone can
enable it to realize the fundamental part of its programme,
which is to restore the authority of the State for the
safety, greatness and prosperity of the country.*
Up till the last minute Mussolini allowed Giolitti to believe
that they were in agreement on essentials and that they only
differed over the sharing of places in the cabinet. Giolitti,
for his part, thought he could get the best of the bargain by