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Documenti (n. 22)
DOCUMENTO N. 22 Chiarimento al segretario di Balfour
(.Lettera dell’ambasciatore Imperiali all’on. Malcolm)
Paris, Ist of May igig.
  My dear Malcolm,
  I	have just received Signor Orlando’s reply and I think opportune to quoie the telegram; it runs thus:
  « Although authorised by Mr. Lloyd George and M. Clemenceau I thought better not to publish the Memorandum as if appears to me that the publication would not certainly have helped to enhance the sympathies of the Italian people towards England and France. I wish to add in a strictly confidential way that a French diplomat thoroughly acquainted with the feeling of public opinion in Italy most earnestly urged me not to read the Memorandum. I therefore confined myself to simply sum up the views of the two Allied Governments as it had been agreed in the conversation of Thursday last. The communication was received by the House with unmistakable indication of painful surprise from which I gather that things would have been even worse had I communicated the Memorandum ».
  Under the circumstances and for the obvious reasons stated in signor Orlando’s telegram, I venture to express my most earnest hope that the Memorandum will not be published. I would have come and see you myself had I not been prevented from by the Ist of May. I am so very sorry of the stoppage of circulation because if I had been permitted to come I would have drawn your attention on a most warm and cordial appeal addressed by M. Poincare to the Italian Nation. The document published by the Havas was reproduced by last night’s newspapers.
  Believe me, etc. etc.
Imperiali