File No. 763.72111/350
The Chargé d’Affaires in Italy (Jay) to the Secretary of State
Rome, July 31 1914.
[Received August 24.]
No. 131]
Sir: I have the honor to report as follows upon the present situation in Italy in respect to the war now existing between Austria-Hungary and Servia.
The issuance of the ultimatum to Servia last Friday by the Cabinet of Vienna came as a complete surprise to the Italian Foreign Office. It was at first believed that the ultimatum had been issued with the approval of the German Government, and the Italian press was inclined to resent the fact that their Foreign Office should not have also been consulted, considering this as a reflection upon the dignity and importance of Italy as the third member of the Triple Alliance. Since, however, it now appears that even Germany was not consulted by Austria, this feeling has been succeeded by one of relief that Italy should not have been obliged to express an opinion, and that by thus not committing itself, Italy has been left with freer hands.
The people of Italy, as you are of course aware, still regard Austria as their enemy, following in this respect the traditions of the past generation, and the hope is ever present that some day she will recover Italia irredenta, i. e., the Italian-speaking provinces of Austria on the Adriatic.
Italy is, however, bound to Germany and to Austria by the treaties which form the Triple Alliance, and her special role, in a general European war, would be to attack France, which country would necessarily have had to join Russia against Germany and Austria.
Nevertheless, it is generally believed here, and this belief is reflected in the entire press of Italy, with the single exception of a Roman paper known to be in the pay of Austria, that were a general war to break out, Italy should, and would, remain neutral, notwithstanding her treaty obligations.
[Page 73]It would appear to be clearly against her interests to have Austria emerge victorious from a general war as the dominating power in the Balkans, and therefore there are those who believe it is possible, under certain circumstances, that Italy would not hesitate to prevent such a consummation.
The general impression, moreover, is that were the Government to attempt to carry out Italy’s reported obligations as a member of the Triple Alliance by declaring war, the people as an entire nation would refuse to fight, even indirectly, on behalf of Austria.
This belief, I may add, is fully shared by those members of the Diplomatic Corps in Rome with whom I have talked, and who are unanimously of the opinion that Italy will confine herself to the maintaining of an attitude of armed neutrality.
The Italian people do not want war and in consequence absolutely no enthusiasm has been aroused, even in the most patriotic and nationalist circles, by the prospects of war; rather on the contrary a feeling of anger exists against Austria for having put Italy in an embarrassing position.
Whereas the papers report great popular demonstrations in favor of the Triple Alliance in Berlin and Vienna, nothing of the kind has occurred in Italy, and it is a significant fact that the Austrian Embassy in Rome is not only not the object of enthusiastic demonstrations but still actually requires its usual police protection.
Italy has not yet mobilized; but she will presumably be obliged to do so, even if adopting an attitude of neutrality.
The Socialist and Republican parties have held meetings in various parts of Italy denouncing war and calling upon the laboring classes to refuse to fight. This, however, seems unnecessary owing to the fact that, as I have explained, there is little prospect of Italy taking an active part in any general European war which might lead to the aggrandizement of Austria.
I have [etc.]