THE COUNCIL OF FOUR


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authority to act for them. If the Italian representatives did not come
back, there was no official person with whom negotiations could take
place. The Marquis Imperiali then said that the Italian representa-
tives ought to know this. He was afraid that if they came back to
Paris, and found that no agreement could be reached, the situation
would be graver than ever. Mr. Lloyd George asked, "Why would it
be more grave than it is now?" He had warned them a week ago.
The Italians were in possession of Fiume contrary to the Treaty of
London. He had asked what the position of the Italians would be,
and what the general position would be if the Peace about to be secured
with Austria gave Fiume to the Croats. The Marquis Imperiali had
been somewhat perturbed at this and had said, "I suppose you could
put the Germans off for a day or two if the Italian Delegation were
returning?" Mr. Lloyd George then told him that the Italian Gov-
ernment would be under an entire delusion if they thought that they
could get Fiume. The Allied and Associated Powers were absolutely
united on that point. They were united quite apart from the question
of principle, because the Treaty of London gave Fiume to the Croats.
A compromise that had been suggested was that it might be arranged
that Fiume should become a free port, instead of being given to the
Croats, on condition that the Italians gave up to the Serbs-Croats the
Dalmatian Coast. The Marquis Imperiali had asked Mr. Lloyd George i
if he would put this in writing, and Mr. Lloyd George had declined.
(In the course of the discussion below, it will be found that Mr.
Lloyd George supplemented his statement from time to time, as the
course of the discussion brought fresh points to his mind.)
M. CLEMENCEAU said he had had a conversation with the Italian
Ambassador, Count Bonin, which had been almost identical with Mr.
Lloyd George's, but he had had one opportunity which Mr. Lloyd
George did not have. Count Bonin had asked him what his point of
view was. He had replied that he certainly would give it, and he had
given him a piece of his mind. He had told him that Italy had entered
the war with a bargain. This bargain had not been kept yet. Italy
had postponed for more than a year going to war with Germany.
The bargain had been that Italy was to get the Tyrol, Trieste, and
Pola, and that Fiume would go to the Croats. Now Italy asked him
to keep his word about their part of the Treaty, and to break it in
regard to Fiume. This was a point the Italians did not seem to
realise. He had told him that he could see what was the game they
were playing, but they could not get a quarrel between the Allies and
President Wilson about Fiume. Italy had broken the Treaty, and
he had the written opinion of a jurisconsult to that effect, which could
be produced if it were wished. Count Bonin had said "Why do you
not make a proposal ?" M. Clemenceau had replied "we cannot, we