My French colleague visited me after that. He told me that Mr. Schebeko had shortly before made the same communication to him, which had surprised him somewhat, as Mr. Schebeko had talked quite differently twenty-four hours before. Russia, he thought, had intended absolutely to prevent any war-like action on the part of Austria against Serbia. Since it was found impossible to prevent this, she replied by mobilizing. He no longer considered a localization feasible, although we certainly ought still to strive toward that aim. No. 387 TSCHIRSCHKY. The Imperial Chancelor to the Ambassador at Petersburg1 Telegram 140. BERLIN, July 29, 1914.2 The following telegram from the Czar crossed the telegram of His Majesty' to the Czar transmitted yesterday through Your Excellency: "Am glad too far. Nicky." 4 This telegram His Majesty replied to this evening with the following uncoded telegram sent direct: "I received my help. Willy."5 No. 388 BETHMANN-HOLLWEG. The Ambassador at Vienna to the Foreign Office Telegram 133. VIENNA, July 29, 1914.7 Instructions carried out.8 Count Berchtold's thanks for the suggestion. Minister is ready to repeat declaration concerning territorial disinterestedness which he has already made at Petersburg and through the local Russian representative. So far as the further declaration with reference to military measures is concerned, Count Berchtold says that he is not in a position to give me a reply at once. In spite of my representations as to the urgency of the matter, I have up to this evening received no further communication." 1 From the original draft in the handwriting of the Imperial Chancelor. To the Central Telegraph Office July 30 at 12.50 a.m. See No. 335. Here the Czar's telegram to the Emperor of July 29 (No. 332) is inserted. TSCHIRSCHKY. 7 Filed in Vienna July 29 at 11.50 p.m.; arrived at the Foreign Office July 30 at 1.30 a.m.; receipt stamp: July 30, a.m. See Nos. 323 and 377. See No. 407. No. 389 The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the Chargé d'Affaires at Bucharest 1 Telegram 51. BERLIN, July 29, 1914.3 Matters are getting more acute, inasmuch as Russia has today ordered mobiliza'tion of Kasan, Kiev, Odessa, Moscow. As a result Austria, on her part, can hardly fail to mobilize against Russia. Perhaps conflict could still be prevented by Roumanian move at Petersburg, or possibly by a direct telegram from King Carol to Emperor of Russia, in which Roumanian obligations were made plain.3 Friendly telegrams have been exchanged between His Majesty the Emperor and Emperor Nicholas, but up to the present without any positive result. JAGOW. *) No! No there is no thought of any thing of that sort!!! No. 390 The Czar to the Emperor' Telegram (unnumbered). PETERHOF PALACE, July 30, 1914. 8 Thank you heartily for your quick answer. Am sending Tatistcheff this evening with instructions. The military measures which have now come into force were decided five days ago for reasons of defense on account of Austria's 10 preparations." I hope from all my heart that these measures won't in any way interfere with your part as mediator which I greatly value. We need your strong pressure on Austria12 to come to an understanding with us. NICKY. *Austria has only made a partial mobilization against Serbia in the south. On the strength of that the Czar as is openly admitted by him here-instituted “mil. measures which have now come into force" against Austria and us and as a matter of fact five 13 days ago. Thus it is almost a week ahead of us. And these measures are for defense against Austria, which is in no way attacking him!!! I can not agree to any more mediation, since the Czar who requested it has at the same time secretly mobilized behind my back. It is only a maneuver, in order to hold us back and to increase the start they have already got. My work is at an end! 1 From the original draft in Jagow's handwriting. 2 To the Central Telegraph Office July 30 at 1.45 a.m. 3 See No. 463. W. From the corrected copy [in English] of the Telegraph Office at the New Palace. Cf. German White Book of May, 1915, p. 35, No. 22, VI. There the telegram is dated 1.20 p.m. See also Nos. 359 and 366. See further No. 413. Filed at Peterhof Palace at 1.20 a.m.; arrived at the Telegraph Office at the New Palace at 1.45 a.m.; receipt stamp of the Foreign Office, July 30, p.m. 644 'now" twice underscored by the Emperor. 7 "force" twice underscored by the Emperor. "five" thrice, “days" twice underscored by the Emperor. defense" twice underscored by the Emperor. 941 10 "Austria" twice underscored by the Emperor. 11 Exclamation-point by the Emperor on the left margin. 12 The words "strong Austria" twice underscored by the Emperor. 13 "five" twice underscored by the Emperor. No. 391 1 The Imperial Chancelor to the Ambassador at Petersburg 1 Telegram 141. 3 BERLIN, July 29, 1914.2 friend To the telegram transmitted to the Czar through the agency of Your Excellency, the Czar has made the following reply: "Thanks for your ship. Your loving Nicky." 4 Request Your Excellency, p. p., to clear up, by means of an immediate talk with Mr. Sazonoff, the alleged discrepancy between your speech and the telegram of His Majesty. Consideration of the Hague conference would in this case naturally be excluded. No. 392 BETHMANN-HOLLWEG. The Imperial Chancelor to the Ambassador at Petersburg 5 Telegram 142. BERLIN, July 30, 1914. Please tell Mr. Sazonoff that we are continuing to mediate; condition, however, would be suspension for the time being of all hostilities against Austria on the part of Russia. No. 393 BETHMANN-HOLLWEG. Telegram 188. The Imperial Chancelor to the Ambassador at London' BERLIN, July 30, 1914.8 Kindly thank Sir E. Grey for his frank explanation and tell him that we are continuing to mediate in Vienna and are urgently advising the acceptance of his proposal. BETHMANN-HOLLWEG. From the original draft in the handwriting of the Imperial Chancelor. To the Central Telegraph Office July 30, at 2.40 a.m. 'See No. 387. Here is inserted the telegram of the Czar to the Emperor of the 29th of July (No. 366). 'From the original. Draft in Jagow's handwriting. To the Central Telegraph Office at 2.55 a.m. 'From the original. Draft in Jagow's handwriting. 'To the Central Telegraph Office at 2.55 a.m. See Nos. 368 and 418. Telegram 20. No. 394 The Chargé d'Affaires at Cetinje to the Foreign Office 1 CATTARO, July 29, 1914.1 Calmer guidance seems to have gained the upper hand at yesterday's meeting of the Ministerial Council. Minister for Foreign Affairs has told Italian colleague that despite the news of the outbreak of hostilities in Serbia, the Government would for the time being await the progress of events and make no change in their relations with Austria, nor hand back the Minister his passports until further notice. General mobilization ordered. Sir E. Grey just sent for me again. The Minister was entirely calm, but very grave, and received me with the words that the situation was continuing to grow more acute. Sazonoff had stated that after the declaration of war he will no longer be in a position to negotiate with Austria direct, and had requested them here to take up the mediation efforts again. The Russian Government regards the cessation of hostilities for the present as a necessary preliminary to mediation. Sir E. Grey repeated his suggestion already reported, that we take part in a mediation à quatre, such as we had already accepted in principle. It would seem to him to be a suitable basis for mediation, if Austria, after occupying Belgrade, for example, or other places, should announce her conditions. Should Your Excellency, however, undertake mediation, a prospect I was able early this morning to put before him, this would of course suit him equally well. But mediation seemed now to him to be urgently necessary, if a European catastrophe were not to result. Sir E. Grey then said to me that he had a friendly and private communication to make to me, namely, that he did not want our warm personal relations and the intimacy of our talks on all political matters to lead me astray, and he would like to spare himself later the reproach (of) bad faith. The British Government desired now as before to cultivate our previous friendship, and it could stand aside as long as the conflict remained confined to Austria and Russia. But if we and France should be involved, the situation would imme1 From the decodification. 2 Filed at Cattaro July 29, at 5 p.m.; arrived at the Foreign Office July 30, at 2.55 a.m.; receipt stamp: July 30, a.m. Communicated on July 30 to the General Staff, the Admiralty Staff, the Imperial Naval Office and the Ministry of War. See No. 358. 3 Thus in the decodification. 4 From the original. Draft in Jagow's handwriting. Cf. Bethmann's speech before the Reichstag committee on the 9th of November, 1916 (Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung November 10, 1916). To the Central Telegraph Office at 2.55 a.m.; arrived at the Embassy at Vienna at noon. * See No. 368. It diately be altered, and the British Government would, under the circumstances, find itself forced to make up its mind quickly. In that event it would not be practicable to stand aside and wait for any length of time. "If war breaks out, it will be the greatest catastrophe that the world has ever seen." was far from his desire to express any kind of a threat; he only wanted to protect me from disappointments and himself from the reproach of bad faith, and had therefore chosen the form of a private explanation." As a result we stand, in case Austria refuses all mediation, before a conflagration in which England will be against us; Italy and Roumania to all appearances will not go with us, and we two shall be opposed to four Great Powers. On Germany, thanks to England's opposition, the principal burden of the fight would fall. Austria's political prestige, the honor of her arms, as well as her just claims against Serbia, could all be amply satisfied by the occupation of Belgrade or of other places. She would be strengthening her status in the Balkans as well as in relation to Russia by the humiliation of Serbia. Under these circumstances we must urgently and impressively suggest to the consideration of the Vienna Cabinet the acceptance of mediation on the above-mentioned honorable conditions. The responsibility for the consequences that would otherwise follow would be an uncommonly heavy one both for Austria and for us.1 BETHMANN-HOLLWEG. Apparently We can not This report does not agree with the impression that Your Excellency gave during the course of the conference of Count Berchtold with Mr. Schebeko. there is some misunderstanding, which I beg to have cleared up. expect Austria to deal with Serbia, with whom she is at war. The refusal to hold any exchange of opinions with Petersburg, however, would be a serious error, as it would be direct provocation of Russia's armed interference, which Austria-Hungary is beyond all else interested to prevent.5 We are, of course, ready to fulfil the obligations of our alliance, but must decline to be drawn wantonly into a world conflagration by Vienna, without having any 1 See Nos. 434, 437, 440, 441, 450, 464, 465, 468 and 482. 2 From the original. Draft in Stumm's handwriting, with alterations and additions by Jagow and the Imperial Chancelor. Cf. Bethmann's speech in the Reichstag on the 19th of August, 1915. To the Central Telegraph Office at 3 a.m.; forwarded at 4.40 a.m.; arrived at the Embassy at Vienna at 10 a.m. Here is inserted Pourtalès' telegram of July 29 (No. 365), after some abbreviation of it had been made, especially the omission of the words "and that in grasping at every straw,' "that I had no knowledge Grey's proposal," and "in case it were impending.' In the Stumm draft here came next the sentence: "Kindly express yourself along these lines to Count Berchtold with all the impressiveness possible." The sentence, with the addition of the words "and great seriousness" in Jagow's hand, following "possible," was later taken out. (See, however, note 2, p. 346.) |