With his simple watchword, 'Work and Discipline,' Mussolini's iron hand wrought order out of chaos, economic prosperity out of economic dissolution, and restored to the nation its momentarily shaken faith in itself and the future. Italy's recovery was the most remarkable phenomenon of post-war Europe, and while it means that this country can no longer be counted negligible at international council tables. Discussion was been put aside as weakening immediate efficiency, strikes were stopped because they were wasteful, and a strong government was supported in order that it may multiply industrial energy and increase the capacity of production. In this way Italy sought both to meet the growing demands of subsistence for her people at home, and to place herself in a position eventually to obtain from the powers recognition of her world claim for international justice. The nation instinctively felt the necessity of this policy in 1922, when it gave birth to Fascism. The alternative was civic suicide and national effacement.

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