This gave Mussolini a mortgage on the high command of the Italian military, a power of the King under the provisions of the Albertine Statute. The King considered vetoing the law that created such rank and requested to be advised by Professor Santi Romano, President of the Council of State, who analyzed the law and found it to comply with the Statute; Victor Emmanuel vehemently protested against Romano's opinion, but eventually signed the law and had it promulgated on the Gazzetta Ufficiale.
This placed Mussolini under a mortgage on the Italian military's leadership, an authority of the King as per the Albertine Statute. The King pondered nullifying the law that established such rank and sought advice from Professor Santi Romano, President of the Council of State, who examined the law and deemed it in line with the Statute; Victor Emmanuel strongly opposed Romano's stance but ultimately signed the law and published it in the Gazzetta Ufficiale.