New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-26
ITALY ACCUSED
OF BLACKWAIL
BY AUSTRIA
Vienna Publishes Letters
to Show Ally Sought
"Slice of Flesh"

Washington, Oct. 25.-The text OF
four articles of the secret Triple ALI
ance. which for thirty years was in
force among Germany. ustria-Hungary
and Italy. is disclosed in Red Book is
sued to-day by the Austro- Hungarian
Ministry Of Foreign Affairs through the
embassy here. The Red Book deals with
the negotiations between Australia
gary and Italy which led up to Itsly's
denunciation Of the Triple Alliance and
her declaration Of war on AustriaHun-
gary. 1t is made up for the most part
of letters and kilograms exchanged be-
tween the Austro-Hungarian Foreign
Office and the embassy in Rome, with a
few communication from German dip
lomats. Some of these communications
charge Italy with having attempted TO
blackmail Austrla-Hungary.
The Red Book disclOses :he fact that
before the outbreak of the war Italy
told Austria her course was likely 10
precipitate a European conhagratiOn,
and also that Austria, before taking
the decisive step against Serbia rad
received assurances from Germany Of
her support in case Russia entered the
war;
The articles from the Triple Alliance
are made public primarily with ref
erence to Austria's contention that
Italy was not entitled to the terri
toria' compensation on which she in
sisted in return for Austria's invasion
of Serbia, and surely not to "a s,ce
of our own flesh" as this portion Of
Austria demanded by Italy was cher
acterized. The article says:
"Austria-Hungary and Italy, being
DESTROYS solely that the territorial
status quo in the near East be main
tanned az much as possible, pledge
themselves to exert their influence TO
prevent all territorial modification
which may prove detrimental to one or
the other of the powers signatory 20
this treaty. To that end they shall
communicate TO one another all such
information as may be suitable for
their mutual enlightenment, concern
ing their own dispositions as we'll as
those Of other powers. Should, how
ever, the status quo in the regions of
the Balkans or Of the Turkish coasts
and islands in the Adriatic and Egean
seas in the course of events become
impossible, and should Austria Hun
gary or Italy be placed under the ne
cessity, either b. the action of a third
power or otherwise, TO modify that
status quo by a temporary or perma-
nent occupation on their part, such oc-
cupation shall take place only after q
previous agreement has been made be-
tween the two powers, based on the
principle of reciprocal compensation
for all advantages, territorial or other
wise, which either of them may obtain
beyond the present status quo, COM
pensation which shall satisfy the le-
gitimate interests and aspirations of
both parties"
In reference to ltaly's declaration Of
neutrality early in the war and her
contention that, under the Triple Ali
ance, she was not obligated to assist
Austria and Germany, the following
extracts from the treaty are given out:
III one or two of the high contract
ing parties should be attacked without
direct provocation on their part. and
be engaged in war with two or several
Great Powers not signatory 20 this
treaty, the casus foederis shall apply
simultaneously to all the high CON
tracing parties"
The high contracting parties mutu
ally promise peace and friendship. and
shall not enter into any alliance or
engagement directed against any one
of their respective states"
I'm the event that great power rot
slgnatory to this treaty should menace
the safety Of the states of one OF the
high contracting parties, and that the
menaced party should be forced TO
make war on that party, the two Others
bind themselves 10 observe toward
their ally benevolent neutralitv
Each one Of them, in that case. re-
serves to herself the right to partici-
pate in the war, if she should con-
sider II appropriate to make common
cause with her ally"