Question

When did Mussolini capture Port Fiume?
a. 1923
b. 1924
c. 1925
d. 1926

Answer 1

Hint: Benito Mussolini was an Italian political leader who from 1925 to 1945, he became Italy's fascist dictator. After the first world war, the control of Port Fiume was a major controversy between Yugoslavia and Italy.

Complete answer:
a. Fiume had been delegated to Yugoslavia by the secret Treaty of London (26 April 1915) However the Italians claimed it on the basis of self-determination at the Paris Peace Conference.
b. In 1919 on the $12^{th}$ of September, Fiume was occupied by the Italian nationalist poet Gabriele D'Annunzio, who had gathered a group of men near Trieste, and he declared himself the commander.
c. In 1920, the Treaty of Rapallo was signed in which the Italian government promised to help Yugoslavia in removing D’Annunzio.
d. A solution was proposed later which said that both Italy and Yugoslavia have joint control over Port Fiume.
e. However, after the fascist government came to power in Italy this plan was dropped. Later after pressure from Benito Mussolini, the Yugoslav government surrendered, and Fiume was recognised as Italian by a new Italo-Yugoslav treaty signed in Rome on Jan. 27, 1924.

So, the correct answer is option b.

Note: Count Carlo Sforza who was an Italian diplomat proposed a solution to the crisis, he said that the free state of Fiume-Rijeka would have an Italo-Fiuman-Yugoslav port consortium, this was backed by Riccardo Zanella, who was the president of Fiume and this solution was accepted by the electorate of Fiuman on April 24, 1921.