Th e electoral violence was largely downplayed ("there were relatively few serious cases of violence and bloodshed," April 18, 1924, ibid., fol. 61) and once more understood as a typical trait in Italian aff airs: "Th at the sweeping Fascista victory was due in some degree to improper measures of coercion is no doubt the case, but it must be born in mind that violence and corruption have always been widely prevalent in Italian elections, particularly in the south" (April 11, 1924, FO 371/9938, fol. 51). Ultimately what mattered was that Mussolini represented political stability. He commented that, if the English electoral system (i.e., a majoritarian voting system) were adopted, "practically the whole chamber would be Fascista" (ibid.).

Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order, loc. 1726