town of Gradisca.

Trieste to be made an imperial free city, receiving an administration
insuring an Italian character to the city, and to have an Italian
university.

Recognition of Italian sovereignty over Avlona and the sphere of
interests belonging thereto.

Austria-Hungary to declare her political disinterestedness regarding
Albania.

National interests of Italian nationals in Austria-Hungary to be
particularly respected.

Austria-Hungary to grant amnesty to political or military criminals
who were natives of the ceded territories.

The further wishes of Italy regarding general questions to be assured
of every consideration.

Austria-Hungary, after the conclusion of the agreement, to give
a solemn declaration concerning the concessions.

Appointment of mixed committees for the regulation of details of
the concessions.

After the conclusion of the agreement Austro-Hungarian soldiers,
natives of the occupied territories, should not further participate
in the war.

At last Germany, weighed down by the burden of war and anxious to
keep Italy neutral, appeared to believe that the difficulty had
been settled. But Baron Sonnino's reply proved disappointing. He
found the proposals too vague. They did not settle the Irredentist
problem; above all they made no appreciable improvement in Italy's
military frontier; finally, they did not offer adequate compensation
for the freedom of action Austria would enjoy in the Balkans. "A
strip of territory in the Trentino," he concluded, would not satisfy
any of Italy's requirements.

On April 2, 1915, Austria, spurred on by Germany, endeavored to
meet the Italian objections by offering more specific concessions.
She expressed willingness to cede the districts of Trento, Roveredo,
Riva, Tione (except Madonna di Campiglio and the neighborhood),
and Borgo. This readjustment would give Italy a frontier cutting
the valley of the Adige just north of Lavis. These districts Baron
Burian considered far more than a "strip of territory," and he
hoped Italy would be satisfied.

But Italy was far from satisfied, and six days later, in response
to an invitation for counterproposals, Baron Sonnino drafted the
following demands:

I. The Trentino, with the boundaries fixed for the Kingdom of Italy
in 1811.

II. A new eastern frontier, to include Gradisca and Gorizia.

III. Trieste and its neighborhood, including Nabresina and the
judicial districts of Capo d'Istria and Pirano, to