Even within the Triple Agreement there were some changes in the balance of power in the first weeks of 1917. The most important development was that, at the end of the previous year, David Lloyd George had been appointed British Prime Minister. The British politician immediately started his work and together with Aristide Briand, the French Prime Minister, organized a meeting in Rome to discuss a new offensive plan. The aim was to move the positions of the frontlines which, after two and a half years, seemed definitely blocked.
The idea of Lloyd George, not shared by his military commanders, was to extend all possible help to Italy in order to break down the front on the Isonzo. The conquest of Trieste and the invasion of the peninsula of Istria had forced Austria-Hungary to recall its troops who were deployed at the side of the Germans on the western front and this made possible a new attack by French and English forces in Flanders.
The scepticism shown by the English and French military commanders was shared by Cadorna himself who was not favourable to the proposal to concentrate a huge offensive on the Karst. This would surely have provoked reprisals by the Germans who were stationary on the western front and would have therefore been able to concentrate on a large scale attack in Trentino. The plan was therefore not implemented.
The official meetings, especially at a military level, went on even during the following weeks. In the last days of winter General Robertson, an Englishman, visited the defensive lines on the Karst and expressed his concern regarding their organization. If the Austro-Hungarian forces were to unleash a surprise attack, it was very likely that the Italian line would crumble. Given this situation, on 23rd March the Italian, English and French military commanders met atUdine to reach an official agreement on the material assistance to be provided to the front on the Karst which was judged to be in an absolutely precarious condition.
