Tellinis Murder On 27 August 1923, Tellini and two aides (an interpreter anda chauffeur) were ambushed and assassinated by unknown assailants at Kakavia’s border crossing, near the town of loannina in Greek territory.[20] The five victims were Tellini, Major Luigi Corti, Lieutenant Mario Bonacini, Albanian interpreter Thanas Gheziri and the chauffeur Remigio Farnetti. None of the victims were robbed. The incident occurred close to the disputed border and therefore could have been carried out by either side. According to Italian newspapers and the official statement of the Albanian government, the attack was carried out by Greeks Italy sent an ultimatum to Greece on 29 August 1923, demanding: « Acomplete official apology at the Italian legation in Athens; « Asolemn funeral in the Catholic cathedral in Athens in the presence of the whole of the Greek government; « Military honours for the bodies of the victims; Full honours by the Greek fleet to the Italian fleet which would be sent to Piraeus; ¢ Capital punishment for the guilty; « Anindemnity of 50 million lire within five days of receipt of the note; and ¢ Astrict inquiry, to be carried out quickly with the assistance of the Italian military attaché.Greece replied to Italy on 30 August 1923, accepting four of the demands which with modifications as follows: « The Piraeus commandant would express the Greek Government’s sorrow to the Italian Minister; « Amemorial service will be held in the presence of members of the government; « On the same day a detachment of the guard would salute the Italian flag at the Italian legation; « The military would render honours to the remains of the victims when they were transferred to an Italian warship. The other demands were rejected on the ground that they would infringe the sovereignty and honour of Greece. In addition, the Greek government declared its complete willingness to grant, as a measure of justice, an equitable indemnity to the families of the victims, and that it did not accept an enquiry in the presence of the Italian military attaché but it would be pleased to accept any assistance which Colonel Perone (the Italian military attaché) might be able to lend by supplying any information likely to facilitate the discovery of the assassins. Mussolini and his cabinet were unsatisfied with the Greek government’s reply and declared that it was unacceptable. The Italian press, including the opposition journals, endorsed Mussolini’s demands and insisted that Greece must comply without discussion. Mussolini’s decision was received with enthusiasm in all of Italy.Bombardment and Occupation of Corfu On 31 August 1923, a squadron of the Italian Navy bombarded the Greek island of Corfu and landed 5,000 to 10,000 troops. Airplanes aided the attack. Italian fire was concentrated on the town’s Old Fortress, which had long been demilitarized and served as a shelter for refugees from Asia Minor, and on the Cities Police school at the New Fortress, which was also a refugee shelter. The bombardment lasted 15 to 30 minutes. Asaresult of the bombardment 16 civilians were killed, 30 injured and two had limbs amputated, while according to other sources 20 were killed and 32 wounded. There were no soldiers reported among the victims, all of whom were refugees and orphans. The majority of those killed were children. The Commissioner of the UK based charity, Save the Children Fund, described the Italian bombardment as “inhuman and revolting, unjustifiable and unnecessary. The Corfu’s prefect, Petros Evripaios, Greek officers and officials were arrested by the Italians and detained aboard an Italian warship. The Greek garrison of 150 men did not surrender but retired to the island’s interior. Following the landing, the Italian officers feared British citizens may have been wounded or killed, and were relieved to discover that there were no British subjects among the victims. However, the residence of the British officer in charge of the police training school was looted by Italian soldiers.Reactions after the Bombardment and Occupation of Corfu Following the incident, the Greek government proclaimed martial law throughout Greece. The Greek fleet was ordered to retire to the Gulf of Volos to avoid contact with the Italian fleet. In the Athens Cathedral, a solemn memorial service was held for the persons who were killed in the Corfu bombardment, and the bells of all of the churches were tolled continuously. After the service, demonstrations against Italy broke out. All places of amusement were closed as a sign of mourning for the victims of the bombardment. Resolution On 01 September, Greece appealed to the League of Nations, but Antonio Salandra, the Italian representative to the League, informed the Council that he had no permission to discuss the crisis. Mussolini refused to co-operate with the League and demanded that the Conference of Ambassadors should deal with the matter. Italy assured that it would leave the League rather than allow the League to interfere. Britain favoured referring the Corfu matter to the League of Nations, but France opposed such a course of action fearing that it would provide a precedent for the League to become involved in the French occupationOn September 8 the Conference of Ambassadors announced to both Greece and Italy, as well as to the League of Nations, the terms upon which the dispute should be settled. The decision was that: « The Greek Fleet shall render a salute of 21 guns at Piraeus to the Italian Fleet, which will enter the port, followed by French and British warships, which shall be included in the salute; A funeral service shall be attended by the Greek Cabinet; Military honours shall be rendered to the slain upon embarkation at Preveza; Greece shall deposit 50,000,000 lire in a Swiss bank as a guarantee; The highest Greek military authority must apologise to the British, French, and Italian representatives at Athens; There shall be a Greek inquiry into the murders, which must be supervised by a special international commission presided over by the Japanese Lieutenant Colonel Shibuya, who was a military attaché of the Japanese embassy, and which must be completed by 27 September; Greece must guarantee the commission’s safety and defray its expenses; and The conference requested the Greek Government to communicate its complete acceptance immediately, separately, and simultaneously to the British, French, and Italian representatives at Athens. ¢ Inaddition, the conference requested the Albanian Government to facilitate the commission’s work in Albanian territory. . .Both Greece, on 08 September, and Italy, on 10 September, accepted it. The Italians added, however, that they would not evacuate the island until Greece had given full satisfaction. In Italy the press widely reported satisfaction with the Conference's decision and praised Mussolini. On 11 September the Greek delegate, Nikolaos Politis, informed the Council that Greece had deposited the 50,000,000 lire in a Swiss bank and on 15 September, the Ambassadors Conference informed Mussolini that Italy must evacuate Corfu on the 27 September, at the latest. In Greece there was a general depression over the decision, because Italy obtained practically everything she demanded. On 30 September, the Italian fleet, except one destroyer, departed. Conclusion The ulterior motive for the invasion was Corfu’s strategic position at the entrance of the Adriatic Sea. The crisis was the first major test for the League of Nations but the League failed it. It showed that the League was weak and could not settle disputes when a great power confronted a small one. The authority of the League had been openly defied by Italy, a founding member of the League and a permanent member of the council. The Italian Fascist regime had managed to prevail in its first major international confrontation. In addition, it showed the purpose and tone of Fascist foreign policy. Italy's invasion of Corfu was Mussolini’s most aggressive move of the 1920s. The reputation of Mussolini in Italy was enhanced.