20 July: Tschirschky tells Berchtold he thinks Italy, the third member of the Triple Alliance, will claim compensation if Austria-Hungary expands its influence in the Balkans.
Italy has an eye on the Trentino, an Italian speaking part of the Empire. Berchtold counters by saying Italy needs a strong Austria “as a bulwark against the Slav flood”. As a small sop to Italy Berchtold agrees to inform the Italian Foreign Minister of the note to Serbia on the afternoon before it is delivered.