South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-26
ITALY TELLS HER
REASONS FOR WAR
Statement From Embassy As
SertS AuStria-Hungary ViO-
lated Treaty of Triple ALI
anCe in Fight on SerVia.

WASHINGTON. May 26-The Ital-
ian embassy Tuesday night gave out
a lengthy statement received from its
government in Rome. explaining the
reasons for Italy's entrance into the
war and summarizing the negotia-
ti1ns with Austria Hungary prior TO
the declaration Of hostilities.
The statement in part follows.
THE triple alliance was essentially
defensive and designed solely 10 pre-
serve the status quo. or. in other
words. the equilibrium in Europe.
That these were its only objects and
purposes is established 10y the letter
and spirit Of the treaty as well as by
the intentions clearly described and
set forth in official acts Of the min
listers who created the alliance and
confirmed and renewed il i'm the inter
est Of peace which always has inspir-
ed Italian policy.
The treaty. as long as its intents
and purposes had been Loyalty inter-
preted and regarded and as long as it
had not been used as "A preteXt for
aggression against others. greatly con-
tributed to the elimination and settle
ment OF causes OF conflict and for
many years assured 10 Europe the in
esIimable benefits Of peace.
ignored Peace Proposals.
But Austria Hungary severed the
treaty by her own hands She re-
jected the response OF Servia, which
gave 20 her all the satisfaction she
could legitimately claim. She refused
20 listen 10 the conciliatOry proposals
presented by Italy in conjunction with
other powers. in the effort TO spare
Europe from a vast conflict certain to
drench the continent with blood and
TO reduce il TO ruin beyond the con-
ceptiOn Of human Imagination, ana
finally she provoked that conflict
Article one OF the treaty embodied
the usual and necessary oblit;ation Of
such pacts--the pledge TO exchange
Views upon any political and eco
nomic Questions of a general nature
that might arise Pursuant 10 it's
terms none of the contracting parties
had the right TO undertake. without a
previous agreement. any step the
consequence Of which might impose a
duty upon the other signatOries aris-
ing out OF the alliance. or which
would in any way whatsoever en-
crOach upon their vital interests. This
article was violated by Austria Hun
gary when she sent 70 Servia her note
dated July %, 1914. an action taken
without the previous assent of Italy
Warned Last July.
"As far back as the beginning of
July the Italian government. preoc-
cupied by the prevailing feeling I'm
Vienna. caused To- be laid before the
Austria Hungarian government a
number of suggestions. advising mod
Grafton and warning IL Of he impend-
ing danger Of an European outbreak
ON number of occasions italy gave
Austria TO understand. in friendly but
clear terms. that the independence of
Servia was considered by Italy as es-
sential 10 Balkan equilibrium Aus
"a
Italy could never permit that equili-
brium to be disturbed by her preju-
dice.
Therefore. when Austria Hungary
ignored the usual practices and men
aced Servia by sending her an ultima
tum without IN any way notifying the
Italian government of what she pro-
posed 10 do, indeed leaving that
government to learn of her ac-
tion through the press rather than
through the usual channels of diplOm-
acx, when Austria Hungary took this
unprecedented course she not only
severed her alliance with Italy. but
committed an act inimical To Italian
interests The Italian government has
obtained trustworthy information that
the complete program laid down by
Austria-Hungary with reference to
the Balkans was prompted by desire
TO decrease Italy's economical and pO-
litical influence in that section and
tended directly and indirectly 10 the
subservience of Servia 10 Austria
Hunear.. the political and territorial
isolation OF Montenegro and the isola-
ton and political decadence of Rou-
mania.
This attempted diminution of the
influence of Italy in the Balkans
would have been brought about by the
Austria Hungarian program even
though Austria Hungary had no in
tention OF making further territorial
acquisitions. Furthermore. attention
should be called 20 the fact that the
Austria Hungarian government had
assumed the solemn obligation Of
prior consultation Of Italy as required
by the special provisions of article
VII. of the treaty of the triple all-
ance which. in addition 10 the obliga-
ton Of previous agreement. recognized
the right of compensation to the
other contracting parties in case one
should occupy temporarily. or perma-
nently any section OF the Balkans.
Got Reluctant Acquicscencc.
'To this end the Italian govern
ment approached the Austria Hungar-
fan government Immediately upon the
inauguration Of Austria -Hungariar
hostilities and Servia had succeeded
In obtaining reluctant acQuiescence in
the Italian representations. CONVEX
satiOns were initiated immedis tely
after July % for the purpose of giving
a new lease OF life 10 the treaty which
had been violated and thereby an
nulled by the act OF Austria Hungary.
The conversations were renewed. with
additional propositions as the basis
In December. 1914 Count Berchtold
the Austria Hungarian minister for
foreign affairs. was Informed that the
Italian government considered il
necessary 20 proceed without delay TO
an exchange OF views and consequent
Is 20 concrete negotiations with the
Austria Hungarian government con-
cerning the complex situation arising
out OF the conflict which that govern
ment had provoked. Count Berch-
told at first refused. He declared that
The time had not arrived for neEOtia-
lions. Subsequently. upon our re-
toinder. in which the German govern
ment united. Count Berchlold agreed
TO exchange views as suggested. We
promptly declared. as one OF our
fundamental objects. that the com