[222] "Can and will our allies treat our absence as a matter of no moment? Can and will they violate the formal undertaking which forbids the belligerents to conclude a diplomatic peace?... The London Declaration prohibits categorically the conclusion of any separate peace with any enemy state. France and England cannot sign peace with Germany if Italy does not sign it.... The situation is grave and abnormal, for our allies it is also grave and abnormal. Italy is isolated, and nations, especially those of continental Europe, which are not overrich, flee solitude as nature abhors a vacuum."--_Corriere della Sera_, April 26, 1919. Again: "'The Treaty of London' restrains France and England from concluding peace without Italy. And Italy is minded not to conclude peace with Germany before she herself has received satisfaction."--_Journal de Genève_, April 25, 1919. [223] On May 6, 1919, at Versailles. [224] Cf. _Corriere della Sera_, May 10, 1919. [225] Annex W of the Revised Treaty. [226] This incident was revealed by Enrico Ferri, in his remarkable speech in the Italian Parliament on July 9, 1919. Cf. _La Stampa_, July 10, 1919, page 2. [227] Cf. _The Morning Post_, July 9, 1919. [228] On July 10th the Italian Finance Minister, in his financial statement, announced that the total cost of the war to Italy would amount to one hundred milliard lire. He added, however, that her share of the German indemnity would wipe out her foreign debt, while a progressive tax on all but small fortunes would meet her internal obligations. Cf. _Corriere della Sera_, July 11 and 12, 1919. [229] Cf. _Avanti_, July 19, 1919. [230] Shown in percentages, the rise in the cost of living was: United States, 220 per cent.; England, 240 per cent.; Switzerland, 257 per cent.; France, 368 per cent.; Italy, 481 per cent. [231] Enrico Ferri, on July 9, 1919. Cf. _La Stampa_, July 10, 1919. [232] At a later date the President reiterated the grounds of his decision. In his Columbus speech (September 4, 1919) he asserted that "Italy desired Fiume for strategic military reasons, which the League of Nations would make unnecessary." (_The New York Herald_ (Paris edition), September 6, 1919.) But the League did not render strategic precautions unnecessary to France. [233] _Corriere della Sera_, May 11, 1919. [234] _La Stampa_, July 16, 1919. [235] _Avanti_, April 27, 1919. Cf. _Le Temps_, April 28, 1919. [236] _Corriere della Sera_, August 9, 1919. [237] _Corriere della Sera_, September 3, 1919. [238] Quoted in _La Stampa_ of July 20, 1919. [239] _Ibidem_. [240] _Corriere d' Italia_, June 29, 1919. [241] Cf. _Modern Italy_, July 12, 1919 (page 298). [242] _Echo de Paris_, July 7, 1919. [243] Cf. "An Italian Exposé," published by _The Morning Post_, July 5, 1919. IX JAPAN