Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-29

credited to Rome as German ambaS-
sador he was charged with the def
mite task of bending every ehort TO-
ward preventing Italy from en1ering
the war, it being believed az that Tune
that II Italy took up arms II would De
on the side of the allies.
At first the ambassador received en-
eouragement that his mission might re-
suit in success. He was too astu.e
diplomat however, not to perceive ina
back of this complaisant attitude OF
italy lay the pressing necessity or
gaining time. for Italy was unpreparen
for war and needed an interval Tor
preparations The ambassador accord
inpiy sought to tie Itaiy's hands by
presenting concrete offers which. even
II satisfying her only in part. would
cause large section of the PUBIC 10
urge the government TO accept them
and thus avoid the hardships of war.
Suggested Ceding OF Territory.
T, WAS under these circumstances that
the German ambassador first proposed
a settlement whereby Italy shonlo re-
ceive the Austrian territory 1nhabited
principally by Italians This susees-
ton originally was vague. ana was not
ACCOMPANIED by evidence thar AUS , 10
had acouiesced in 1t. several
were required to give shape "
proposal. which eventually was ~,
10 a plan for rectfication or inc i.
ian frontier in such a way as " i.
il less open to invasion. t,,+,ry
In the meantime 1talEs 1niil. I
nrenarations were approaching conip'e
ton This enabled Foreign MiHistI'
Sonnino to assume hr1ner ant
He said clearly that the COVE
could not possibly come 10 any ~.
standing which was contrary " ny
unanimous wishes of the peop.
parliament. stating that there wac q
complete ratification of sentiment.
rherInore, he said. the cah!iiet va ~;
willing TO continue nesotid'' ia
tailed hv Germany unless they s hou'p
he participated in by Austria. WIZ
which any agreement necessarily must
he concluded.
Austria AT first declared that Emperor
Francis Joseph would never cohsetII w
the alienation OF one 1nc i,,, " situation.
Thus facing an Impossible si'ue
Prince Won Ruelow threatened to apah-
don his post. Rather than a rupture:
Austria entered the negotiations anu
asked Italy to state her aeiidhu'-
n was at the middle of March "hen
Italy made a response. repeating 70
Austria virtually what she had aifeais
said about territorial asgraho ~ she
to Prince Won BueloW 10 thas nc
added that she wished Austria 10
hedge herself that. whatever the re-
sI,It Of the war. she would respect me
territorial integrity of serbia. ~
reason for this request was Una, l.'ai'
having taken her stand on 1hs ~
ME Of political solidarity for the ltal-
ian race. could not consisten.N
narty even indirectly. to any set.le
ment of the war whereby the polltleai
entity of Serbia would he th.eateneu
The Austrian view was 1iia, oncan+s
able. She intimated that she CONSIDERED
II astonishing that Italy, having oe-
clared herself neutral when the war pc
gan, should interfere in any settieneii'
hetween Austria and Serbia, in addl-
ZION to claiming for herself extensive
territories possessed by Austria.
Succeeds in Averting Rupture.
The two points Of view were so far
apart that a rupture seemed inevitable,
but Prince Won Buelow succeeded IN
averting such a conclusion. The ne
sotiations were taken up afresh. Signor
Sonnino stated that the minimum of
Italian demands included. in addition to
the clause concerning Serbia, ceSslon
by Austria of the entire province OF
Trent and of Istria, with Trieste and
Pola, and also certain number OF the
Dalmatian Islands.
Austria came forward with counter
suggestions. limiting the territory TO
be coded to part of the province OF
Trent and certain other territory, ex-
c iud1ng Poia ana trieste Inc ldttei
city. under this arrangement. was to
be transferred into free town under
Austrian suZerafnty.
Italy definitely refused these pro-
posais. 1t is asserted that Prince Won
Buelow came to the end of his re-
sources when he suggested that Trieste
be made a Hanseatic town undeL in
ternational control. and that he ex-
pected both Vienna and Rome to re-
fuse.
1t is understood that little has been
accomplished since these last named
proposals failed, and, accordingly, there
Is general feeling that Italy will