Page - 388 - in THE FIRST WORLD WAR - and the End of the Habsburg Monarchy, 1914 – 1918

388 The Third Front 17 May : ‘The events in Italy force us now to finally plan for war against this perfidious state. […] I would also like to emphasise that with regard to the proclamation to be is- sued if war were to be declared against Italy, it would be of great importance that in this proclamation, words are chosen that expose the perfidy of Italy in scathing terms, and that portray Italy’s actions not as war, but as cowardly, mean, treacherous buccaneering.’ 21 May : ‘The Italian perfidy is now bearing the fruits that I had already foreseen years ago, and that I wanted to nip in the bud. […] I find that we have been diplo- matically duped [not for ‘three weeks’ as Bolfras had written, but] for 30 years already, although with the thorough diplomatic involvement on the part of Germany. Every member of the Gendarmerie had a clearer insight into the matter than our diplomats […].’ 2 June : ‘Here, we are putting all our hopes into the most drastic possible success against Russia ;  – luckily, the Signori Italiani  – at least until now  – have not yet begun the offensive that one should sensibly expect from them. How easy it would have been in 1907 or even later to have given them a battering  – it makes one want to cry to think of the shining opportunity we have missed.’917 It quite clearly failed to occur to Conrad that his repeated plea for a pre-emptive war against Italy could be judged no differently than Italy’s policy now, which in a cold- blooded, Machiavellian fashion was designed to achieve its own goals. The Pre-emption Already in January 1915, the first rumours of the Italian demands had been circu- lated beyond the diplomatic and military channels. The reaction, particularly in Tyrol, was accordingly vehement. However, as yet, nothing had really been divulged. Only in March was it announced that Italy had demanded the cession of Trentino and a part of South Tyrol, including Bolzano (Bozen).918 This news, which had not yet been fully corroborated, went hand in hand with the fact that the War Ministry ordered the Dis- trict Commissions for Tyrol, Carinthia and the Austrian Littoral to take preparatory measures and to evacuate all civilians who were not absolutely needed. The military posts also voiced the notion of deporting, detaining or arresting all Italian nationals  – regardless of whether or not they were under suspicion  – if the alarm were to be raised. More than ever, all suspects were to be treated in this way. Ultimately, the prospect of imposing martial law on the greater part of the Monarchy was raised, and only at the last moment, on 27 April 1915, after an intervention by Minister Burián to the Emperor, was it delayed.919 As was the case during the July Crisis, the trigger had been enormous and, ultimately, unfounded doubts in the attitude among the population. In the end, the War Surveillance Office made significant curtailments with regard to