"Such audacity, it is utterly intolerable! How can the Germans treat us in this manner? After all, we have been allies for decades! How dare they!" King Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy thundered within the palace, consumed by rage.
The demands presented by Germany and Austria-Hungary were completely unacceptable to Vittorio Emanuele III, who considered them a profound disgrace.
"Your Majesty, we absolutely cannot acquiesce to the demands of Germany and Austria-Hungary; they are clearly insulting us!" declared the Minister of War.
The other ministers echoed their sentiments, vehemently condemning Germany and Austria-Hungary while resolutely opposing their demands. They unanimously believed that Italy's legitimate interests had been disregarded and felt that the Central Powers were grossly underestimating Italy's strength. Given this, they saw no reason to uphold the so-called treaty and advocated for an immediate alliance with the Entente to launch an offensive against Germany and Austria-Hungary.
"Would joining the Entente guarantee our victory over Germany and Austria-Hungary?" King Vittorio Emanuele III inquired. Despite his fury, he had not lost his rationality, aware that this decision would shape Italy's future. Any misstep could lead to dire consequences.
"Your Majesty, should we align with the Entente, they will undoubtedly defeat Germany and Austria-Hungary. The Anglo-French forces have begun to establish their position on the Western Front, thwarting Germany's rapid plans for France. Soon, they will face relentless counterattacks. On the Eastern Front, though the Germans hold the advantage, they will soon contend with millions of Russian troops once mobilization is complete. The Germans will likely be overwhelmed and could very well be defeated. As for Austria-Hungary, they have failed to secure victories on either the Southern or Eastern Front. Without German support, they would have been defeated long ago. Should we commit our main forces across the Alps to attack Austria-Hungary, we would surely prevail. After vanquishing Austria-Hungary, we could join forces with Britain, France, and Russia to besiege Germany. Victory for us would be inevitable!" The Minister of War spoke with palpable excitement, as if envisioning the moment when Italy's army would march into Berlin.
The other cabinet ministers were equally captivated, nodding in agreement as though victory was already assured.
"Prime Minister, what is your opinion?" King Vittorio Emanuele III turned to Prime Minister Antonio Salandra.
"Your Majesty, the attitudes of Germany and Austria-Hungary are abundantly clear; they refuse to cede territories in the Balkans to us. Thus, if we desire these lands, we have but one choice: to join the Entente. However, we must also ensure that we extract the maximum benefits from them," Antonio Salandra replied.
King Vittorio Emanuele III nodded. "Very well, let the Prime Minister take full charge of negotiations with the Entente. This time, we shall make the world aware that Italy's resurgence is unstoppable. Germany and Austria-Hungary shall pay dearly for their affront!"
Feeling deeply insulted, Vittorio Emanuele III was eager to erase that humiliation. Only by decisively defeating Germany and Austria-Hungary could he truly restore Italy's honor.
"Yes, Your Majesty," the ministers replied enthusiastically, all appearing to possess unshakeable confidence in the impending war.
As principal members of the Entente, Britain and France faced immense pressure during the conflict, particularly in the war's early stages when Germany inflicted significant losses. They were constantly worried about the possibility of defeat, making it imperative to rally other nations against Germany and Austria-Hungary.
Their primary target was undoubtedly Italy, a member of the Central Powers. Despite its alliance, Britain and France believed that Italy's fluctuating loyalties and existing tensions with Austria-Hungary could be leveraged. If they offered sufficient incentives, Italy might betray the Central Powers and join the Entente. Successfully persuading Italy would create a comprehensive encirclement of Germany and Austria-Hungary, granting the Entente an undeniable advantage and reversing the current unfavorable situation.
On the following day, after the German and Austrian foreign ministers arrived in Italy, British Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey and French Foreign Minister Théophile Delcassé secretly arrived in Rome. Unaware of the Central Powers' visit until afterward, they felt a wave of relief, fearing that their late arrival might allow Italy to be swayed into continuing its alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary, a catastrophic outcome for the Entente, particularly for war-weary France.
That evening, in a secluded estate on the outskirts of Rome, Prime Minister Antonio Salandra and Foreign Minister Paolo Sadegli met secretly with Sir Edward Grey and Théophile Delcassé.
"Mr. Prime Minister, on behalf of the British Empire and the French Republic, I sincerely invite Italy to join the Entente in waging war against the Central Powers. In this conflict, the Entente represents the just cause," stated Sir Edward Grey.
However, Antonio Salandra refrained from expressing any opinion, recognizing that this war was driven not by notions of justice or villainy, but by the self-serving interests of powerful nations.
"If Italy agrees to join the Entente, we guarantee that it will receive substantial benefits after the war concludes," Théophile Delcassé added.