http://www.kalamicorfu.com/html/period_1914_-1944.html
The Treaty of 29th of March 1864 presented the islands of Corfu and Paxos to neutrality, which was violated, firstly by the Italians. At the end of December 1915, Italy sent a military force to Corfu under the command of General Marro. They established Post Offices; they controlled the mail of the residents and they prevented the import of products. In December of 1915, after the fall of the Serbian military front, France had an order to besiege, temporarily and peacefully, Corfu Island in order to re-draw up the Serbian army, under the command of the French General Baumon. The alliance of Adad besieged Corfu from the 19th of December 1915 to the 10th of February 1916, moving the Serbian army to the island. The Corfiots accepted with hospitality the Serbians and they gave the Theatre for the sittings of the Serbian government. In 1915-1919, the Italian and French forces as well as the Serbians remained on the island. The Italians did not have any intention to pull out, but the British and the French government forced them to displace. In 1923, the Italians tried to besiege Corfu again. The morning of the 27th of August 1923, unknown people murdered the Italian engrave deputation on the Greek - Serbian border. Italy made an announcement asking within 24 hours the following demands:
- The apology of the Greek people.
- The commemoration of the dead in the Catholic Church of Athens, with all the members of the Greek government to participate.
- The honor of the Italian flag in the Italian naval squadron, which would have shipping in Faliro.
- The investigation of the Greek authorities adjoined by the Italian military attendant carnal Perone di San Martino, which should end within 5 days.
- The death penalty of the guilty people.
- The Greek government should pay the amount of 50 million Italian pounds in 5 days, as a penalty.
- The dead should be honored with military honors in Preveza.
The Greek government responded accepting the following demands:
- The Greeks accepted to present the apologies.
- The commemoration
- The honor of the Italian flag at the Embassy
- The honor of the dead in Preveza.
On 31st of August 1923, the Italians suddenly attacked Corfu. The commander Antony Foskini asked from the Prefect of Corfu to surrender the island. The Prefect refused and he informed the government. Foskini warned him that the Italian forces would attack at 17:00 and the Corfiots refused to raise the white flag in the fortress. Six-seven thousand refugees, 300 orphans plus the military hospital were lodged in the Old Fortress, as well as the School of Police in the New Fortress. At 17:05 the Italians bombarded Corfu for 20 min. There were victims among the refugees of the old Fortress and the Prefect ordered the raising of the white flag. He also protested at the violation of the International Treaty of 1864 for the bombardment of the unfortified Town and the murder of the refugees. The Italians besieged the island and set the forces ashore. From the beginning of their possession, they started the terrorism, they inflicted hard penalties on the people who had guns, and the officers declared that their possession was permanent. There were daily requisitions of houses and they censored the newspapers. Greece asked for the interference of the society of the nations, in which Greece and Italy were members, and demanded the solution of the problem through arbitration. The Italian government refused, declaring that Greece will be possessed until the acceptance of the Italian terms. On 7th of September 1923, the ambassador's conference in Paris ended with the evacuation of the Italian forces from Corfu, which finally happened on the 20th of September 1923 and ended on the 27th of the same month.
