The farmer and mechanic., 1915-05-25
IS SURPRISE 1t
ITh[Y'S DECISION
Austro Hungarian Minister
Won Rojecz Issues
Note

Vienna, via London. May %
Baron stephen Burian Won Rajeczn,
Austro- Hungarian Minister for
Foreign Affairs, today handed to the
Italian Ambassador 4 note expressing
painful surprise al Italy's decision
to put an end in such an abrupt man.
ner to the treaty which was based on
the community of our most important
political interests; which has guaran-
teed security and peace to our states
for so many years and which has
rendered Italy notorious services
The note says Austria's astonish-
ment is more than justified as Italy
repeatedly announced its wish to
maintain and strengthen the bonds
OF alliance between the two countries.
Italy's Interest Not Affected.
Baron Burian Won Rajecz repeated
that the object of the ultimatum to
Serbia was purely to protect the
monarchy against the revolutionary
Vaccinations of Serbia and that this
aim could in no way affect 1talys
interests.
When the conflict assumed Euro
pean character Italy proclaimed her
neutrality without Throwing out the
slightest suggestion that this war
which was provoked by Russia and
prepared for long beforehand, could
be of a nature to deprive the triple al
lance of its raiSOn d'etre, and made
no communication which could justi-
fly the belief that it regarded the pro-
ceeding of Austria-Hungary as a flag
| rant violation, both in letter and
| spirit Of the alliance and treaty.
Admit View of Italian Government.
! The cabinets of Vienna and Berlin,
even though deploring Italy's Tesolu
| ton to remain neutral, a resolution
which, in our view was hardly COM
patible with the spirit of the treaty,
nevertheless loyalty admitted the view
| Of the Italian government and an eX
| change of views which then took place
| established unaltered the maintenance
Of the triple alliance
| Under article VII of the treaty Italy
presented claims which aimed at Sc
curing certain Compensations in the
| event Of Austria Hungary obtaining
advantages from the war, territorial
| or otherwise, in the Balkan peninsula.
Ready to Submit Question for Exami-
| nation.
| Austria Hungary accepted this
standpoint and declared herself ready
to submit the question to examina-
ton, at the same time pointing out
that SO long as the eventual Gdvan-
tageS according to AUSTRIA Hungary
| remained unknown it would be diff
cult to fix such compensation.
Baron Burian Won RajecZ contend
ou LnaC 1ldly SHdTeO lllS view dS was
shown in the declaration made by the
late Marquis Di San Giuliano dated
August 25 last year, in which tile thea
Italian Foreign Minister SAID that It
would be premature to speak Of come
pensations."
! Nevertheless, Baron Burian con-
tinues, Austria Hungary WAYS has
been ready to begin conversation 0u
the subject and when Italy made her
demands Austria Hungary accepted
even this as basis for negotiations.
although in it's opinion Article VII OF
the treaty never referred to the terri
tory Of the treaty bound parties but
related purely and simply to the Bal
kan Peninsula.
While it was impossible to accede
to all the demands Austria Hungary
with a sincere desire TO reach an un-
derstanding, made sacrifices which
were only justified by "a desire to up.
hold the alliance existing for so many
years to the common advantage OF
; both countries"
,, Replying to the Italian objection
: that the concessions offered b>
Austria-Hunsary were only to bt
realized at an indefinite time; name
ly, at the end of the war, Baron
Burian says that Austria Hungary
was ready to offer all necessary guar.
2 antees to prepare for this transfer ano
2 insure its "even being carried out a.
no distant date
, In conclusion the note says:
= "The royal Italian government, III
! an arbitrary manner, has dIsburdenec
. itself Of all its obligations. and the
S lAustro- Hungarian government de-
r clines responsibility for all the conse
quences that may arise from this
procedure"