As a result of this important conference, a separate section was
established by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to look after
the propaganda in favor of the Allies in the Austro-Hungarian countries
and in their armies. The Austrian Premier, Dr. von Seidler, stated
in his last speech before the adjourning of the Reichsrat that the
Austro-Hungarian Government was fully aware of this propaganda and had
taken measures to combat it. A Slovene paper, the Slovenic, commented
as follows:
The German newspapers have begun at the same time to call the
attention of the Jugoslavs to Italian imperialistic aims and to
show all at once great devotion to our country, which, they say,
is menaced by the Italian peril. With a special affection for our
people, an affection never known before, they urge us to beware of
our Italian neighbors, enumerating all the points of the London
understanding with regard to our territory.
In publishing this agreement the Grazer Tagblatt, that ultra
national German organ, wished to give us a political lesson
of which they might have saved themselves the trouble. It was
superfluous, if for no other reason, because it came from German
nationalists, whose counsels we can never follow.
The Austrian Government and the German newspapers are troubling
themselves in vain as to how to circumvent the Italian propaganda.
It would be of more importance if they would take care to improve
their system of government, the oppression and injustice of which
only help the work of the propaganda. (Further thirty lines
censored.)