The Italian government, guided by the astute diplomacy of its Minister for Foreign Affairs Sidney Sonnino, was not only involved in negotiations with the Triple Alliance but had also starteda secret dialogue even with member states of the Triple Agreement. Their wish was to open a new front in the south of Europe.
On 16th February 1915 a memorandum was sent to London outlining the conditions so that Italy would join the war on the side of the members of the Triple Agreement. On 04th March the Italian ambassador to Great Britain, Marquis Guglielmo Imperiali, explained to the British Minister for Foreign Affairs Edward Grey the 16 points of this memorandum while recommending absolute secrecy. On his part the British politician informed the Italian representatives that he needed to discuss the issue, at least verbally, also with France and Russia.
On 01st April the British Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith, delivered to the government in Rome the counterproposals of the Triple Agreement that no longer included the lands of Dalmatia. After more discussions, on 14th April agreement was reached between Italy and the countries of the Triple Agreement who signed the Treaty of London twelve days later.
This Treaty consisted specifically of three documents: the Italian demands, the commitment by the four countries not to reach a separate peace and the promise to keep this Treaty a secret. Italy undertook to join the war within a month from the signing of the Treaty alongside Great Britain, France and Russia against all the enemies of these countries, namely Austria-Hungary, Germany and the Ottoman Empire.
In exchange, in a future peace treaty, Italy would obtain the Südtirol, Trentino, Gorizia, Gradisca, the territory of Trieste, the whole Istria peninsula up to the Gulf of Quarnaro with the islands of Cherso and Lussino, the Dalmatian islands and the cities of Zara, Sebenico and Trau, the city of Valona and the island of Saseno, sovereignty over Dodecanneso, recognition of zones of influence in Asia Minor and the rectification of several boundaries in regions in Africa that were under Italian rule.
