just returning from the Italian frontiers, where our troops were defending Italian soil as if it were their native land. On the same day I left for Rome. Now that the fundamental sanction of the Government was confirmed by a public statement in Parliament, I inferred that I should be able to conclude all arrangements with the Consulta and the Ministry of War, which were necessary for realizing our political and military plans. When I reached Rome, however, the circumstances had changed. The recent international events had imparted a new direction to the development of our affairs also.
Orlando and Sonnino had already left Rome when I arrived, and I therefore first discussed questions relating to our army with the Ministry of War, and satisfactorily settled all the grievances of our regiments. I then proceeded to the Consulta and discussed with Demartino the question of a possible agreement and the proclamation of our independence. Demartino assured me that Orlando’s declaration in Parliament was an affirmative reply to my proposals concerning the proclamation of independence and an Italo-Czechoslovak agreement, and that there was no dissent either as regards the matter itself or the methods of dealing with it. He added, however, that it would be necessary to agree about the details and the text of the agreement, in which connection the minister would have to be allowed the final decision. I agreed to this, and at the same time proposed that I would shortly submit my draft of the agreement to the Consulta, so that everything could be prepared before Sonnino and Orlando returned.
I also notified M. Barrère and Sir Rennell Rodd of my proceedings with the Italian Government, and through Sir Rennell Rodd I was able to inform Masaryk about the new situation. The victories in the Balkans, the fall of Hertling, the appointment of Max of Baden as his successor, and the armistice overtures made to Wilson by the Central Powers made it clear to us that fateful decisions were at hand. In this sense I telegraphed on the morning of October 10th, before leaving Rome, to Masaryk in Washington that the decisive moment was approaching, that Rome agreed to our plans, that we should evidently be prepared any day for a proclamation of independence, and that therefore it was necessary to draw up the required declaration immediately and send it to us in Paris.
My negotiations with Demartino on the subject of the Italo-Czechoslovak agreement had not yet been concluded, when I
