In November 1922 the Economist had noted that "Apparently the object of Signor Mussolini is to form a Government of the best men of his own choice, not at the dictation of the groups from which they come, and one of the fi rst planks in his programme is drastic cutting down of public expenditure. . . . Th e attempt to perform it will be watched with sympathy by observers of whatever nationality, who realise the crying need for sane fi nance in Europe" ("Th e Fascisti in Power," Economist, November 4, 1922, 840ff .)

Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order, loc. 1723