Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-05-21
LYGj'N|E:S /: HER
EXCUSE FOX WAR
Accuses Austria Of Trickery
and Violation Of
Treaty
HAD WRONGED SERVIA
Government Gives Detailed Statement
of Various Diplomatic Moves Lead
ing Up to Present Crisis.

Rome, May 21-Diplomatic docu-
ments which disclose each successive
step in the negotiations which result
ed in Italy's denunciation of her treat
ty of alliance with Austria and Ger,
many are contained in the Greer
Book issued by the Italian Govern
ment. This history of diplomatic re,
terchanges begins with a telegram
sent by Foreign Minister Sonnino tc
the Duke of Avarna, Italian Ambas.
sador at Vienna, on December 8, 1918
instructing him to notify Count vor
Berchtold, then Austrian Foreign
Minister that the Austrian advance
in Servia constituted fact covered
in Article 7 of the Triple Alliance
treaty, emitting Italy to compensa.
tionS. Court Won Berchtold replies
that his opinion did not agree with
this view, but on December 20 init
mated that he had begun to change
his mind.
Baron Burian who had succeeded
Count Won Berchtold, tried to evade
any definite expression of opinion.
The Duke of Avarna, on February %,
telegraphed that Austria evidently
was trying to gain in time, but that
she undoubtedly was being pressed
by Germany.
On March Q, Austria consented to
discuss :compensations. Foreign Min
lister Sonnino laid down the cardinal
points of the Italian demands, Baron
Burian answered that Austria would
not accept. Prince Won Buelow, the
German Ambassador in Rome, on
March 20, in the name Of Germany
guaranteed the execution after the
conclusion of peace of any agreement
made by Austria. Signor Sonnino
agreed to resume negotiations on the
condition that Vienna would make
concrete proposals. Seven: days later
Baron Burian asked Italy to give for
NAL agreement to the following
clause; First, the maintenance of
benevolent political and economic neu-
trality throughout the war; second,
Austria to have a free hand in the
Balkans; third, the remuneration on
the part of Italy of any further COM
pensations, and fourth, the n1ainten-
ance of the existing Italo-Austrian ac-
cord concerning Albania. On April =,
Baron Burian added that in exchange
for these pledges Austria would give
to Italy the districts of Roveredo,
Riva and Trentino as well as a few
villages.
Sienor. Sonnino replied he consider
ed these demands contemplate;
nevertheless they were permitted to
stand.
The rumors of a separate Austro-
Russian peace persisting, Rome asked
Vienna for a definite answer. In reply
Vienna added a small zone in the pro-
vince of Trent to the Italian COM
pensation.
On April 25, the Duke of Avarna
said that the Austrian Government
did not believe Italy ever would make
war and that consequently Vienna re-
parded a continuance of the discus
sion as useless.
On receipt of the report, Signor
Sonnino, considering any accord i'm
nossible denuonced the alliance with
[ Austria a-Hungary. He said that. last
summer Austria-Hungary, without
reaching any agreement with Italy
and without giving Italy any notice
whatever even disdaining the ad-
vice of Italy that moderation be OBJ
served. had sent to Servia, on July
% an ultimatum which was the cause
Of the present confagration. Thu!
! Austria Hungary had disturbed the
status quo in the Balkans creating
situation which was of advantage t.
herself alone. Such course Of vlo
lence made benevolent neutrality i'm
nossible, for the reason that Aus
tria- Hungary was fighting to attail
an object diametrically opposed tt