014. A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political in dependence and territorial integrity to great and small States alike." Secret Treaties.— When the World War broke out in the summer of 1914 Italy, although a member of the Triple Alliance, declared her neutrality. Her interests lay counter to, rather than in accord with, those of Austria-Hungary and Germany. Mort-over, under Article VII of the Alliance, she put forth a claim at the Aus trian Court for territorial compensation con tingent upon the invasion of Serbia. This claim was vigorously resisted, but on 20 Dec. 1914, Count Berchtold yielded the principle. The Italian Foreign Minister Sonnino next pro ceeded to demand that the compensation should be made from Austro-Hungarian territory itself. He made it clear that what was wanted was the Trentino and Trieste. After long negotiations, Baron Burian, who had succeeded Count Berchtold as Minister of Foreign Affairs, intl. mated that any cession of Austro-Hungarian territory was impossible, and countered with de mands for compensation because of the Italian occupation of the Dodecanese Islands during the war with the Ottoman empire. Whereupon Italy withdrew her former proposals and served notice on Austria-Hungary that she would re gard an invasion of Serbia as a violation of the stipulations of the Triple Alliance.
Germany here intervened to prevent war, and Austria-Hungary. was persuaded to agree to the principle of cession of territory Stnce, how ever, Italy insisted tipon immediite cession and Austria-Hungary resisted this demand, Germany offered to guarantee that the cession should be made at the conclusion of peace. This Sonnino refused, and 24 March 1915, Burian agreed eto a cession of territories in the southern Tyrol, including the city of Trent.° Sonnino replied that the offer was inadequate. On 8 April 1915, Sonnino made his final demands. Italy must have all the Italian Trentino and a part of Istria. Trieste was to be constituted a free state. In return Italy was to pay 200, 000,000 lire in gold, and guarantee neutrality during the war.
The refusal of Count Burian was a foregone conclusion, and Italy immediately came to terms with the Allies in a secret treaty signed at London. According to this agreement, Italy was to enter the war on the side of the Allies, and in return for this, there was allotted to her, if she could conquer it, a mass of Austro Hungarian territory on the coast.of the Adriatic, including all of Gorizia, Gradisca and Istria, with the city of Trieste, together with the coastal province of Dalmatia as. far as a line just north of Spalato. In addition she was to receive most of the Dalmatian islands, and practically all of the Trentino. On 3 May 1915, Italy declared herself no longer bound by the Triple Alliance and on 23 May pronounced a state of war with Austria-Hungary.
Inunediately after the outbreak of the World War the late King Carol of Rumania an nounced to his advisers his desire to align the country with the Central Povrers. The majority of the council refused to give their assent. and Rumania remained neutral. Italy's declaration of war against Austria-Hungary was generally believed to presage the entrance of Rumania upon the side of the Allies, and in fact con versations between Italy and Rumania on the subject had actually taken place. They were without avail, however. In April and May 1916, anungements were entered into with Ger many and Austria-Hungarv for the purchase and shipntent of Rumanian grain which seemed to foreshadow an aligntnent with those powers.
This also proved to be unfounded, and on 17 Aug. 1916, Rumania signed a secret treaty with the Quadruple Alliance by which she agreed to enter the war on the side of the Allies.
It was stipulated in this treaty that France, Great Britain, Italy and Russia should guaran tee the territorial integrity of the kingdom of Rumania in the whole extent of its frontiers; that Rumania should engage to declare war on Austria-Hungary under the conditions stipulated in an accompanying military convention; that Rumania should cease to make economic and commercial exchanges with the enemies of the Allies; that France, Great Britain, Italy and Russia should recognize Rumania's right to annex certain territories in Austria-Hungary, chiefly occupied by Rumanian populations; that both Rtnnania and the Quadruple Alliance should agree not to make peace separately. The military convention stipulated that Rumania was to attack Austria-Hungary on 28 August; that the Russian army was to aid by vigorous action, especially in Bukcnvina; that the Russian fleet should guard the Rumanian coast, having the right to use the port of Constanza; that Russia was to send two divisions of infantry and one of cavalry to aid Rumania against the Bulgarians; that the Allies were to malce an offensive immediately from Salonica; and that Rumania was to receive munitions and war materials from the Allies by way of Russia.
VVlien the United States seetned lilcely to enter the war, Japan feeling it wise to insure her reward for her participation in the opera tions against Germany, sought certain definite promises from the Allies. Viscount Monoto, the Japanese Minister of Foregin Affairs, toolc the matter u.p with the British Ambassador at Tokio early in 1917. On 16 February, the Am bassador replied alny dear Excellency: With reference to the subject of our conversation of the 27th ultimo, when your Excellency infonned me of the desire of the Imperial Government to re ceive an assurance that on the occasion of a peace conference his Britannic Majesty's Gov ernment will support the claims of Japan in regard to the disposal of Germany's rights in. Shantung and possessions in the islands north of the equator, I have the honor under instruc tions received from his Britannic Majesty's principal Secretary of State for Forvign Affairs to conununicate to you the following message from his Britannic Majesty's Government: 'His Britannic Majesty's Government ac cede with pleasure to the request of the Japan ese Govenunent for an assurance that they will support Japan's claim in regard to the disposal of Germany's rights in Shantung and posses sions in the islands north of the equator on the occasion of the peace conference; it being understood that the Japanese Government will in the eventual peace settlement treat in the same spirit Great Britain's claims to the German islands south of the equator)* To a lice inquiry addressed to France, a favorable reply was received. 6The Govern ment of the French Republic is disposed to give the Japanese Government its accord in reg ulating at the time of the peace neg_otiations questions vital to Japan concerning Shantung and the German isknds in the Pacific north of the equator. It also agrees to support the de mands of the Imperial Japanese Government for the surrender of the rights of Germany possessed before the war in this Chinese province and these islands.* The Russian Ambassador wrote briefly to Viscount Monoto on 20 February, committing Russia to support the Japanese claims, while Italy gave her promis4 after negotiations con ducted at Rome.