“Gentlemen:  I have the honor to present to you a bill to meet the eventual expenditures of a national war”—­an announcement that was greeted by further prolonged applause.

The Premier began an exposition of the situation of Italy before the opening of hostilities in Europe.  He declared that Italy had submitted to every humiliation from Austria-Hungary for the love of peace.  By her ultimatum to Serbia Austria had annulled the equilibrium of the Balkans and prejudiced Italian interests there.

Notwithstanding this evident violation of the treaty of the Triple Alliance, Italy endeavored during long months to avoid a conflict, but these efforts were bound to have a limit in time and dignity.  “This is why the Government felt itself forced to present its denunciation of the Triple Alliance on May 4,” said Premier Salandra, who had difficulty in quieting the wild cheering that ensued.  When he had succeeded in so doing he continued, amid frequent enthusiastic interruptions: 

Italy must be united at this moment, when her destinies are being decided.  We have confidence in our august chief, who is preparing to lead the army toward a glorious future.  Let us gather around this well-beloved sovereign.

Since Italy’s resurrection as a State she has asserted herself in the world of nations as a factor of moderation, concord, and peace, and she can proudly proclaim that she has accomplished this mission with a firmness which has not wavered before even the most painful sacrifices.

In the last period, extending over thirty years, she maintained her system of alliances and friendships chiefly with the object of thus assuring the European equilibrium, and, at the same time, peace.  In view of the nobility of this aim Italy not only subordinated her most sacred aspiration, but has also been forced to look on, with sorrow, at the methodical attempts to suppress specifically the Italian characteristics which nature and history imprinted on those regions.

The ultimatum which the Austro-Hungarian Empire addressed last July to Serbia annulled at one blow the effects of a long-sustained effort by violating the pact which bound us to that State, violated the pact, in form, for it omitted to conclude a preliminary agreement with us or even give us notification, and violated it also in substance, for it sought to disturb, to our detriment, the delicate system of territorial possessions and spheres of influence which had been set up in the Balkan Peninsula.

But, more than any particular point, it was the whole spirit of the treaty which was wronged, and even suppressed, for by unloosing in the world a most terrible war, in direct contravention of our interests and sentiments, the balance which the Triple Alliance should have helped to assure was destroyed and the problem of Italy’s national integrity was virtually and irresistibly revived.