Questions on Italian neutrality in WWI

What would the British do if an Italian merchant convoy steams by Gibraltar with 2 or 3 battleships in tow?

Gently remind Rome of the British naval power with a show of force in the Med. Alongside the French and "ask" the banks and industry to review their contracts with their Italian counterparts. Basically, remind Rome of her security and economic dependence on the Entente. Oh, and pump some money into pro-Entente press outlets for good measure
 
Gently remind Rome of the British naval power with a show of force in the Med. Alongside the French and "ask" the banks and industry to review their contracts with their Italian counterparts. Basically, remind Rome of her security and economic dependence on the Entente. Oh, and pump some money into pro-Entente press outlets for good measure
Do you think HMG would do the same sort of thing to discourage the Italian Government from allowing Italian subjects to work Austria-Hungary and Germany?
 
Do you think HMG would do the same sort of thing to discourage the Italian Government from allowing Italian subjects to work Austria-Hungary and Germany?

Personally? I'd say no: there's a difference between protesting a direct action of the Italian government vs. mere non-intervention in the affairs of private companies, as well as asking/demanding the cessation of a hostile act vs. demanding a particular course of government intervention. The later (which are part of the Italian government trying to ban/limit/disincentive workers crossing the border) is a lot more messing in internal affairs/bullying and is a much greater insult to Italy, which I think is more likely to produce a backlash than compliance. Besides, planting/buying some agent provocateurs of Italian nationalists would be an option open to them to try to undermine A-H in that case
 
Personally? I'd say no: there's a difference between protesting a direct action of the Italian government vs. mere non-intervention in the affairs of private companies, as well as asking/demanding the cessation of a hostile act vs. demanding a particular course of government intervention. The later (which are part of the Italian government trying to ban/limit/disincentive workers crossing the border) is a lot more messing in internal affairs/bullying and is a much greater insult to Italy, which I think is more likely to produce a backlash than compliance. Besides, planting/buying some agent provocateurs of Italian nationalists would be an option open to them to try to undermine A-H in that case
I suspect that many of the Italians not conscripted into the Italian armed forces ITTL would find work in Britain rather than the Central Powers in any case as I suspect that they would be paid more money working in the UK rather than Germany or Austria.
 
Gently remind Rome of the British naval power with a show of force in the Med. Alongside the French and "ask" the banks and industry to review their contracts with their Italian counterparts. Basically, remind Rome of her security and economic dependence on the Entente. Oh, and pump some money into pro-Entente press outlets for good measure
Italy is likely too big to buy considering the need for American money starting from day one iotl and if the Italians are smart (they are if it's about money) they're going to raise the price continuously. With France and Russia already depending on British (read: American) money to be able to do anything worthwhile the UK will burn through its credit limit with the Americans a lot faster, so fast that the Americans would be worried about lending them without anything to secure the loans.
 
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