Exchange of letters as to respective interests in the Mediterraneanmany and Austria-Hungary. Exchanges of letters like this one are com-
mon instruments for acknowledging state intentions in the event of
conflict.
Exchange of Notes
M. Prinetti, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, to M.
Barrère, Ambassador of the French Republic at Rome.
Rome, November 1, 1902
In continuation of the conversations which we have had con-
cerning the reciprocal situation of Italy and of France in the
Mediterranean basin, and concerning more especially the
respective interests of the two countries in Tripolitania-Cyre-
naica and in Morocco, it seemed to us opportune to define the
engagements which result from the letters exchanged on this
subject, between Your Excellency and Marquis Visconti-
Venosta, on December 14 and 16, 1900, in this sense, that each
of the two Powers can freely develop its sphere of influence in
the abovementioned regions at the moment it deems it oppor-
tune, and without the action of one of them being necessarily
subordinated to that of the other. It was explained on that occa-
sion that the limit of French expansion in Northern Africa con-
templated in the abovementioned letter of Your Excellency of
December 14, 1900, was fully understood to be the frontier of
Tripolitania indicated by the map attached to the Declaration of
March 21, 1899, additional to the Franco-English Convention
of June 14, 1898.
We noted that this interpretation left no divergence still
existing between our Governments as to their respective inter-
ests in the Mediterranean.
Profiting by the occasion of these conferences, and in order
to eliminate in a definitive manner any possible misunderstand-
ing between our two countries, I do hot hesitate, in order to
define their general relations, to make of my own accord to Your
Excellency, in the name of the Government of His Majesty the
King, the following declarations:
In case France should be the object of a direct or indirect
aggression on the part of one or more Powers, Italy will main-
tain a strict neutrality.
The same shall hold good in case France, as the result of a
direct provocation, should find herself compelled, in defence of
her honor or of her security, to take the initiative of a declara-
tion of war. In that eventuality, the Government of the Republic
shall previously communicate its intention to the Royal Gov-
ernment, which will thus be enabled to determine whether
there is really a case of direct provocation.
In order to remain faithful to the spirit of friendship which
has inspired the present declarations, I am authorized further to
confirm to you that on the part of Italy no protocol or military
provision in the nature of an international contract which
would be in disagreement with the present declarations exists or
will be concluded by her.
I may add that—save as concerns the interpretation of the
Mediterranean interests of the two Powers, which has a final
character—in conformity with the spirit of the correspondence
exchanged between Your Excellency and Marquis Visconti-
Venosta, on December 14 and 16, 1900, as the preceding decla-
rations are in harmony with the present international engage-
ments of Italy, the Royal Government understands that they
shall retain their full validity so long as it has not notified the
Government of the Republic that these engagements have been
modified.
I should be obliged if Your Excellency would be kind enough
to acknowledge receipt of the present communication, which
must remain secret, and to take note thereof in the name of the
Government of the Republic.
Prinetti.M. Barrere, Ambassador of the French Republic at Rome,
to M. Prinetti, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy.
Rome, November 1, 1902
By your letter of today’s date, Your Excellency has been kind
enough to recall to me that in the continuation of our conversa-
tions relative to the reciprocal situation of France and of Italy in
the Mediterranean basin, and more especially to the respective
interests of the two countries in Tripolitania-Cyrenaica and in
Morocco, it seemed to us opportune to define the engagements
which result from the letters exchanged on this subject between
Marquis Visconti-Venosta and myself on December 14 and 16,
1900, in this sense, that each of the two Powers can freely
develop its sphere of influence in the abovementioned regions
at the moment it deems it opportune, and without the action of
one of them being necessarily subordinated to that of the other.
It was explained on that occasion that the limit of French
expansion in Northern Africa contemplated in my abovemen-
tioned letter of December 14, 1900, was fully understood to be
the frontier of Tripolitania indicated by the map attached to the
Declaration of March, 1899, additional to the English Conven-
tion of June 14, 1898.
This interpretation leaving, as we have noted, no divergence
as to their respective interests in the Mediterranean still existing
between our Governments, and with the purpose of eliminating
in a definitive manner any possible misunderstanding between
our two countries, you have been authorized by the Govern-
ment of His Majesty to formulate of your own accord certain
declarations intended to define the general relations of Italy
towards France.
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt thereof to Your
Excellency and to give you note of these declarations in the
name of my Government.
I am authorized, in return, to formulate in the following
manner the conditions under which France on her side intends,
in the same friendly spirit, to order her general relations
towards Italy.
In case Italy should be the object of a direct or indirect
aggression on the part of one or more Powers, France will
maintain a strict neutrality.