From ‘What Italy Brings To The Allies‘, 29 May 1915:
THE more the entrance of Italy into the war is contemplated the more romantic and gratifying it seems. Italy has joined the forces of Freedom with whom her heart has long been beating. It is her right and natural place. Why, then, it may be asked, did she ever join the Triple Alliance, tie herself to the Teutonic cart-tail, and consent in 1912 to re-tie the ropes which had held her in odious bondage? We pointed out in an article called “The Bridge of Peschiera,” published on October 26th, 1912, that Italian statesmen dared not forget the standing menace of Austria-Hungary on her frontier. The menace was much too near to be ignored. It is true in a sense that Italy, instead of joining the Triple Alliance, might have tried to obtain promises of support from France or Britain or both, and, greatly daring, have snapped her fingers at Austria, always her natural enemy; but the world knew not the Triple Entente when Italy was tricked into the Triple Alliance in 1882.
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