763.72119/2554½
The Italian Ambassador (Macchi di Cellere) to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Lansing: Baron Sonnino cabled yesterday to me pointing out that it is vital to Italy that any armistice to be granted to Germany should be coupled with an Austro-Hungarian armistice. I brought this matter late in the afternoon to the attention of Mr. Polk, asking him whether it would be possible for the government of the United States to instruct accordingly their representatives at Versailles. Mr. Polk was good enough to say that he would take up the matter with you this morning. Meanwhile I have received another cable from my Government which gives expression to the thought of the Italian Government in regard to the questions you put to them in your note of the twenty-third to me,23 and bears largely on the subject of the German and Austrian armistice. I thought it advisable, consequently to let you know confidentially its contents at once, thus conveying also to you in advance the views of the Italian Government on the note in question.
Baron Sonnino, having stated that on the twenty-ninth of October there was called at Paris an interallied meeting to discuss the conditions of an armistice, points out in his cable that it would seem to him premature to give now an official answer to questions which have been addressed also to the other governments and in regard to which there will be a joint discussion in the presence of the American delegate. This the more, inasmuch as Italy, who faces almost alone the whole Austro-Hungarian army, has to safeguard herself against the very serious consequences which might arise from an armistice with Germany alone, which Mr. Wilson has now submitted to the Allies.
Baron Sonnino, however, authorizes me to let the President know at once that in so far as the Italian Government are concerned they are willing to participate in the exchange of views of the allied powers at war against the Central Empires regarding a possible armistice, as suggested in the note of the President of the United States of October 23, 1918.24 The Italian Government fully agree concerning what is said in this note in respect to the manner with which the conditions of such armistice are to be determined. They acknowledge the wise care with which the President of the United States has endeavored in his statements to safeguard the interests of the peoples at war against Germany, and hope that the allied powers proceed at the same time to a determination of the terms [Page 169] which are to be requested for an armistice of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Because of the very high aims the President put forth in his note of the twenty-third of October, the Italian Government do not deem that an armistice may be in any way taken into consideration and, much less, granted to Germany and to Austria-Hungary separately. An armistice granted only to Germany, even when accompanied by the highest guarantees, would make it possible for the Austro-Hungarian army to reenforce, with the divisions freed from the western front, its forces in Italy, which are already superior in number and position. The Austro-Hungarian army would also thus retain in its rank and file German troops disguised as soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, as they have already done in the past. And the geographical conditions are such that internal communications are made more easy between Germany and Austria than between France and Italy, so that it would be impossible for the allies to parry in time the danger by the transferring of arms and troops from one front to the other.
I thought it was important, on account of the urgency of the matters involved, to bring to your kind attention the aforesaid, and I earnestly hope that you may see the way clear to accede to my Government’s point of view, not only in the interests of Italy, but of the allied cause.
Accept [etc.]