"By general conviction," says the Admirals' summing up, "there exist at
Split two political parties which are in sharp contradiction as to the
future status of Dalmatia. The presence of Allied ships, and especially
the Italian ones, has increased this contradiction rather than
diminished it. On the day when disorders broke out at Split a few
Italian sailors had made a small demonstration a little before the
incidents. Certain movements and words on the part of youths,
sympathizers with Yugoslavia, offended the Italian sailors. They were
bold enough to arrest two of these youths.... This procedure of
arresting them naturally and inevitably moved the great majority of the
bystanders and was the actual cause of outrages. This act was approved
by the Italian Naval Authorities, who accordingly are to be considered
responsible for these disorders.... Several civilians and Serbian
soldiers were wounded." The report adds that some Italian sailors were
armed with knives and revolvers, contrary to the regulations of the
Italian Naval Authorities, and concludes with these words: "By arresting
some citizens the Italian sailors have committed an illegal act, which
they carried out according to instructions that were given them by the
Italian Naval Authorities. Accordingly the Commission considers these
authorities responsible for the injuries inflicted on the Serbian
soldiers."