Mordini's task was far from easy. The diplomatic delegations from other countries, taking their lead from the Sardinian-Piedmontese government, still bound by the , refused to establish official diplomatic relations with the provisional government of Lombardy. Only the representative of the newly installed republican government of France declared, at least, that he accepted the offer of "unofficial" diplomatic relations. Mordini accordingly tried to enter into alliances with the de facto governments in Sicily and, closer to home, Rome and Venice, but again with little effect. His proposal to proclaim a republic based on a three-way union between Rome Tuscany and Venice was greeted initially with hesitation and then with outright opposition from his government colleague Guerrazzi, who on 27 March 1849 was granted "dictatorial powers" by the newly constituted Tuscan parliament in response to the looming defeat approaching from the north. Equally unsuccessful were Mordini's attempt to organise on behalf of the provisional government a defence force of volunteer militias, to replace the regular army which had remained loyal to the Grand Duke.