Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-26
ITALY EXPLAINS REASONS
FOR ENTERING THE WAR

Washington. May 25.-ltaly has ad-
dressed to the neutral governments Of
the world lengthy communication
explaining her reasons for declaring
war on Austria. Count Di Cellere. the
Italian ambassador presented a docu-
ment to Secretary Bryan today in the
form Of note to the United States
government. It reviews negotiations
between Italy and Austria revealing
that they began Immediately on the
dispatch Of Austria's uitimatum to
Serbia. Italy claimed then that the
action of Austria disturbed the equi-
librium OF the Balkans and the peace
of Europe in a way that vitality affect
ed Italian interests. AS an ally o:
Austria, Italy asserts the right to have
been consulted before the sending Of
the ultimatum, the first news Of which
was received through the newspapers.
Failing to obtain through diplomacy
the satisfaction Of her territorial and
national aspirations, Italy announces
In the note that a declaration OF wa:
was the only means OF safeguarding
her position In Europe.
The document takes its place in
state department archives along VITA
the other notes and messages received
at the outbreak Of the war from the
foreign Offices of Europe explaining
the positions Of the respective govern
ments and their reasons for action.
None Of these has been published, al
though the European governments
Ia ,hceo NH tho
ground in the various pamphlets de-
failing the diplomatic negotiations pri-
or to the declaration of war.
Text Of Note
The text Of the note as translated and
issued by the Italian embassy, is in
part, as follows:
The Triple Alliance was essentially
defensive and designed solely to pre-
serve the status quo, or in other words.
equilibrium in Europe. That this was
its only object and purpose is estab-
liehed by the letter and spirit OF the
treaty as well as by intentions clearly
described and set forth in official acts
of the ministers who created the alli-
ance and confirmed and renewed it in
the interest Of peace which always has
inspired Italian policy.
Article l of the treaty embodied the
usual and necessary obligation Of such
pacts-the pledge to exchange views
upon any pact and economic questions
of a general nature that might arise.
Pursuant to its terms. none Of the con-
tracing parties had the right to I'M
dertake without a previous agreement
any step, the consequence of which
might impose duty upon the other
signatories arising out of the alliance
or which would in any way whatsoever
encroach upon their vital interests.
This article was violated by Austro-
Hungary when she sent to Serbia her
not dated July %, 1914, an action taken
without the previous assent Of Italy.
The course adopted by Austria
Hungary against Serbia constituted
moreover a direct encroachment upon
the general interests Of Italy both po-
litical and economical in the Balkan Pc
ninsu,a. Austro- Hungary could not for
a moment imagine that Italy could re-
main Indifferent while Serbian indie
pendence was being trodden upon. On
a number of occasions, heretofore, we
gave Austria to understand that the
independence of Serbia was considered
by Italy as essential to Balkan eQui-
librium. Austro- Hungary was further
advised that Italy could never permit
the equilibrium to be disturbed to her
prejudice.
Severed Alliance
Therefore when Austria Hungary ig-
nored the usual practices and raenaced
Serbia by sending her an ultimatum
without in any way notifying the Ital-
ian government Of what she proposed
to do, when Austro-Hungary took this
unprecedented course, she not only
severed her alliance with Italy, but
committed an act inimical to Italian
interests.
The Italian government had obtain
ed trustworthy information that the
complete program laid down by Aus
ro-Hungary with reference to the Bal
kan was prompted by q desire to de-
crease Itaiy's economical and political
influence in that section and tended di-
rectly and indirectly to the subservi-
ance Of Serbia to Austro- Hungary. the
political and territorial isolation Of
Montenegro. and the isolation and po-
litical decadence Of Roumania.
This attempted diminution of Italy
in the Balkans would would have been
brought about by the Austro Hungar-
an program even though Austro-Hun-
gary had no intention Of making fur
Their territorial acquisitions. Further
more, attention should be called to the
fact that the Austro- Hungarian gov
eminent had assumed the solemn OBJ
legation Of prior consultation Of Italy
as required by the SPECIAL provisions Of
Article VII Of the treaty Of the Triple
Alliance, which in addition to the OBJ
sgation Of the previous recognized
right Of compensation to the other con-
tracing parties in case one should oc-
cupy Temporarily or permanently any
section OF the Balkans.
Itaiy's Solicitation
TO this end. the italian government
approached the Austro- Hungarian gov
eminent Immediately upon the inaug-
uration Of Austro-Hungarian hostili-
ties againts Serbia and succeeded in
attaining reluctant acQuiescence in the
Italian representations. Conversations
were initiated Immediately after July
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