WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE 1917

240 WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE
war-weary, and that the Italian people, who had never been
as enthusiastic as their allies about the War, were on the
brink of a revolution. A few months later, part of his apprehensions
were justified by the collapse at Caporetto. But at
St. Jean de Maurienne we knew nothing of the doubts felt
in the highest military circles in Italy as to the morale of
some of the troops. The unyielding spirit of Sonnino had no
misgivings and the Italian peace seekers had not deemed it
prudent to take him into their confidence.
On the following day, April 20th, 1917, I met Prince
Sixte again in Paris on my way back from the Conference. I
told him of the difficulties we had experienced with Italy,
made the greater by our inability to tell Sonnino that we
really had a definite offer to consider. "We have utilised the
statements of Count Mensdorff and such information as we
could get through other channels," I told him, "but it has not
been easy."
I told the Prince that my impression was that Sonnino
would insist on the Trentino, Dalmatia and the coastal
islands of the Adriatic as his minimum demands for peace
with Austria. Trieste might be a subject for negotiation, but
unless something substantial on these lines were offered to
Italy, she would hold out against peace, and as we were
bound to Italy by our Alliance we could not make peace
without her.
The Prince replied that there was little prospect of Austria
making such concessions to Italy unless she very desperately
wished for peace, and that Italy's war achievements
to date could hardly be said to warrant Austria conceding to
her the spoils of victory. I pointed out to him that we were
now in the position, with America's backing, of being able
to carry on indefinitely till we won a victory that would
enable us to dictate terms, and if Austria refused to make
an offer now that would placate Italy, she might have to pay