The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-05-22
IrALYs POOR EXCUSE
Paltry Reasons Which Are Put For
ward at Rome.

Diplomatic documents which disclose
each successive step in the negotia
tions which resulted in Italy's de
nunciation of her treaty of alliance
with Austria and Germany are con
tanned in the Green Book" issued by
the Italian Government
This history of diplomatic inter
changes begins with a telegram sent
| by Foreign Minister Sonnino to the
Duke of Ayarna, Italian Ambassador
at Vienna, On Dec. 3, 1914, instruct
ing him to notify Count Won Berch-
olt, then Austrian Foreign Minister,
that the Austrian advance in Serbia
constituted fact covered in Article
of the Triple Alliance treaty en-
| titling Italy to compensations.
Count Won Bercholdt replied that his
opinion did not agree with this view,
but an Dec. 20 intimated that he had
begun to change his mind.
Baron Burian, who had succeeded
Count Won Bercholdt, tried to evade
any definite expression of opinion.
The Duke of Avarna, on Feb. %, tel
egrnphed that Austria evidently was
trying to gain time, but that she UNI
doubtedly was pressed by Germany.
On March Austria consented to
discuss compensations. Foreign
Minister Sonnino laid down the car
dinal points of the Italian demands.
Baron Burian answered that Austria
would not accept. Prince Won Bulow
the German ambassador in Rome, on
March 90 in the name of Germany
guaranteed the execution, after the
conclusion OF peace, of any agree
ment made by Austria. Signor Son
nino agreed to resume negotiations
on the condition that Vienna would
make concrete proposals
Seven days later Baron Burien ask
ed Italy to give formal agreement to
the following clauses; First, the
maintenance of benevolent, political,
and economic neutrality during the
war; second, Austria to have free
hand in the Balkans; third, the re-
nunciation on the part of Italy of any
further compensation, and fourth,
the maintenance OF the existing
Italo-Austrian accord concerning AL
bania. On April 9 Baron Burian said |
that in exchange for these pledges |
Austria would give to Italy the dis |
tricts OF Roveredo, Riva. and Tren.
tino. as we'll as few villages.
Signor Sonnino replied that he con |
sidered these demands contemplate:
nevertheless they were permitted to
stand.
The rumors of separate Austro.
Russian peace persisting, Rome ask
ed Vienna for definite answer. In
reply Vienna added a small zone In
the Province OF Trent to the Italian
compensation.
: On April 20 the Duke of Avarna re-
ported that the Austrian government
did not believe Italy ever would
make war, and that consequently
Vienna regarded continuance of The
discussions as useless.
On the receipt of this report Sic.
nor Sonnino, considering any accord
impossible, denounced the alliance
with Austria-Hungary, He said that
last summer Austria Hungary without
reaching any agreement with Italy
and without giving Italy any notice
Whatever. even disdaining the advice
of Italy that moderation be observed
mad sent to Serbia on July % an Ill. |
timatnm which was the cause of the
present conflagration. Thus Austria
Hungary had disturbed the status
quo in the Balkans. creating situa-
ton which was of advantage
to herself alone. Such a course of
violence made benevolent neutrality |
impossible for the reason that Aus
tria-Hungary was fighting to attain |
an object Numerically opposed to
the vital interests of Italy. her ally.
Nevertheless, for a period of sew
eral months, Italy endeavored to
bring about situation favorable to |
the re-establishment of friendly re. |
lations between the tow countries but.
these negotiations brought no prac-
tical results. Consequently the al |
lance was renowned by the Duke |
of Avarna on May A. The Duke on
this occasion said Italy was confident
OF her rights and he affirmed to the
Austro-llungarian Government that
from this moment Italy resumes en-
tire liberty of action, declaring that
her treaty with Austria Hungary is
hereby annulled and without effect"