The Responsability for the European War #947895

Tommaso Tittoni, born in Rome on November 16, 1855, was a diplomat and politician of the Kingdom of Italy, as well as a Freemason.
We present to our readers the full text of the speech The Responsibility for the European War, which Tommaso Tittoni, in his capacity as Italian Ambassador to France, delivered at the Sorbonne in Paris on June 21, 1916.
This speech stands as a masterclass in wartime diplomacy and a pivotal document of the First World War. At the time of this address, Tittoni was serving as the Italian Ambassador to France, having already navigated the highest corridors of power as Italy's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. His words were not merely intended for the illustrious audience in Paris, but were broadcast to a world still reeling from the unprecedented slaughter of the "Great War".
Tittoni’s primary objective in this discourse is to dismantle the Central Powers’ narrative regarding the war's origins. With the cold precision of a seasoned diplomat, he moves beyond the immediate catalyst of the Sarajevo assassination to reveal what he terms the "true source" of the conflict: the systematic aggression of Austria-Hungary against Serbia. By meticulously quoting the previous peaceful declarations of Austrian statesmen—such as Count Berchtold—Tittoni utilizes their own past rhetoric to condemn their present actions, famously declaring, “Ex ore tuo te judico” (Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee).
This text is particularly significant for its defense of Italy’s geopolitical shift. Having been a loyal member of the Triple Alliance for decades, Italy’s decision to join the Entente in 1915 was branded a betrayal by Vienna and Berlin. Tittoni counters this by arguing that it was Austria, through its violation of treaties and its disregard for the Balkan balance of power, that first abandoned the alliance. He positions Italy not as a turncoat, but as a guardian of international law and a defender of the "immortal soul of truth" against the "clay of illusion" cast by Austro-German propaganda.