I have had the feeling, as I had then, that later there would become inevitable a process of clarification; but I preferred that it should come forth spontaneously from the succeeding political events.
But that was the last generous gesture that I ever made toward the old Italian ring of parties and politicians.
In the new ministry, among ministers and undersecretaries of state, were fifteen Fascisti, three Nationalists, three Liberals of the right, six “Popolari” and three Social Democrats. I was generous toward the Liberals of the right, whose peculiar maneuvre in order, to pick up for their profit the results of the Fascist revolution had been quite recent. Among the “Popolari” and Social Democrats I selected those who gave promise of national spirit and who did not intrigue with subversive popularism or with socialism.
I kept for myself, with the Presidency of the Council, the office of the Interior and assumed ad interim that of Foreign Affairs. I gave to Armando Diaz the Ministry of War and I promised to give him an army worthy of the country and the victor of Vittorio Veneto. I called Admiral Thaon de Revel for the Navy and Federzoni for the Colonies.
The complete formation of the ministry was as follows:
- Benito Mussolini, Deputy, Presidency of the Council, Domestic and “interim” of Foreign Affairs (Fascist).
- Armando Diaz, General of the Army, War.
- Paolo Thaon de Revel, Admiral, Senator, Navy.
- Luigi Federzoni, Deputy, Colonies (Nationalist).
- Aldo Oviglio, Deputy, Justice (Fascist).
- Alberto De Stefani, Deputy, Finances (Fascist).
- Vincenzo Tangorra, Deputy, Treasury (“Popolare”).
- Giovanni Gentile, Professor, Public Instruction (Liberal of the Right).
- Gabriello Carnazza, Deputy, Public Works (Democrat).
- Giuseppe DeCapitani, Deputy, Agriculture (Liberal of the Right).
- Teofilo Rossi, Senator, Industry and Commerce (Democrat).
- Stefano Cavazzoni, Deputy, Work and Social Providence (“Popolare”).
- Giovanni Colonna di Cesaro’, Deputy, Posts and Telegraphs (Social Democrat).
- Giovanni Giuriati, Deputy, Liberated Provinces (Fascist).
Under Secretaries of State
- Presidency: Giacomo Acerbo, Deputy (Fascist).
- Domestic: Aldo Finzi, Deputy (Fascist).
- Foreign: Ernesto Vassallo, Deputy (“Popolare”).
- War: Carlo Bonardi, Deputy (Social Democrat).
- Navy: Costanzo Ciano, Deputy (Fascist). With the Commisariat of Commercial Marine.
- Treasury: Alfredo Rocco, Deputy (Nationalist).
- Military Assistance: Cesare Maria De Vecchi, Deputy (Fascist).
- Finances: Pietro Lissia, Deputy (Social Democrat).
- Colonies: Giovanni Marchi, Deputy (Liberal of the Right).
- Liberated Provinces: Umberto Merlin, Deputy (“Popolare”).
- Justice: Fulvio Milani, Deputy (“Popolare”).
- Instruction: Dario Lupi, Deputy (Fascist).
- Fine Arts: Luigi Siciliani, Deputy (Nationalist).
- Agriculture: Ottavio Corgini, Deputy (Fascist).
- Public Works: Alessandro Sardi, Deputy (Fascist).
- Post and Telegraph: Michele Terzaghi, Deputy (Fascist).
- Industry and Commerce: Gronchi Giovanni, Deputy (“Popolare”).
- Labor and Social Providence: Silvio Gai, Deputy (Fascist).
When the ministry was completed I wrote the following paper of demobilization, signed by the quadrumvirate:
“Fascisti of all Italy!