On 12 May 1848 the issued a decree providing for an immediate plebiscite to endorse the annexation of Lombardy by the Kingdom of Sardinia. Many at the republican end of the political spectrum saw this as a betrayal of the Milanese uprising and "Voce" now became a harsh critic of the government, denouncing the "collapse of government policy" and a plebiscite proposal which let down those who had placed their trust in the government. Griffini and were among those who signed a protest condemning the plebiscite decree of 12 May, along with Giuseppe Mazzini, Giuseppe Sirtori and Carlo Tenca. During July 1848 battlefield reverses suffered by the Piedmontese left Milan open to the return of Radetzky's Austrian army. As the "ending of Milanese liberty", drew near, Romolo Griffini became secretary to the hastily convened "defence committee", which comprised Manfredo Fanti, and Francesco Restelli. A few days before the Austrian army came back, publication of "Voce del popolo" was suspended on 29 July 1848.