No. 26. Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs to Russian Ambassador at Berlin (Telegram) ST. PETERSBURG, July 13 (26), 1914. Please communicate the contents of my telegram to Vienna of to-day to the German Minister for Foreign Affairs, and express to him the hope that he, on his part, will be able to advise Vienna to meet Russia's proposal in a friendly spirit. No. 27. (Signed) SAZONOF. Russian Chargé d'Affaires at Paris to Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Telegram) PARIS, July 13 (26), 1914. The Director of the Political Department informs me that, upon his informing the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador of the contents of the Servian reply to the ultimatum, the Ambassador did not conceal his surprise that it had failed to satisfy Giesl. In the opinion of the Director of the Political Department, Servia's conciliatory attitude should produce the best impression in Europe. (Signed) SEVASTOPOULO. No. 28. Russian Chargé d'Affaires at Paris to Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Telegram) PARIS, July 13 (26), 1914. The German Ambassador again visited the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs to-day, and made to him the following declarations: Austria has declared to Russia that she does not desire territorial acquisitions, and that she harbors no designs against the integrity of Servia. Her sole object is to secure her own peace and quiet, and consequently it rests with Russia to prevent war. Germany is at one with France in her ardent desire to preserve peace, and she sincerely hopes that France will exercise a moderating influence at St. Petersburg. The Minister pointed out that Germany on her part might well act on similar lines at Vienna, especially in view of the conciliatory spirit displayed by Servia. The Ambassador replied that such a course was not possible, owing to the decision not to intervene in the AustroServian dispute. The Minister then asked whether the four PowersGreat Britain, Germany, Italy, and France-could not make representations at St. Petersburg and Vienna, for that the matter amounted, in effect, to a dispute between Austria and Russia. The Ambassador alleged that he had no instructions. Finally, the Minister refused to agree to the German proposal. No. 29. (Signed) SEVASTOPOULO. Russian Chargé d'Affaires at Paris to Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Telegram) PARIS, July 13 (26), 1914. The Director of the Political Department has expressed the personal opinion that the series of representations made by Germany at Paris aim at intimidating France and at securing her intervention at St. Petersburg. No. 30. (Signed) SEVASTOPOULO. Russian Chargé d'Affaires at Berlin to Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs BERLIN, July 13 (26), 1914. On the news reaching Berlin that the Austrian army had mobilized against Servia, a large crowd, in which the papers report the presence of an Austrian element, gave vent to a series of noisy demonstrations in favor of Austria. Late in the evening the crowd several times collected before the Imperial Russian Embassy and some anti-Russian shouting occurred. Hardly any police were present and no precautions were taken. (Signed) BRONEWSKY. No. 31. Russian Ambassador at London to Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Telegram) LONDON, July 14 (27), 1914. I have received your telegram of the 13th (26th) July. Please inform me by telegraph whether you consider that your direct discussions with the Vienna Cabinet harmonize with Grey's scheme for mediation by the four Governments. Having heard from the British Ambassador at St. Petersburg that you would be prepared to accept such a combination, Grey decided to turn it into an official proposal, which he communicated yesterday to Berlin, Paris, and Rome. (Signed) BENCKENDORFF. No. 32. Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs to Russian Ambassadors at Paris and London (Telegram) ST. PETERSBURG, July 14 (27), 1914. The British Ambassador has enquired whether we think it desirable that Great Britain should take the initiative in summoning a conference in London of the representatives of Great Britain, France, Germany, and Italy to examine the possibility of finding a way out of the present situation. I replied to the Ambassador that I had begun conversations with the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador under conditions which, I hoped, might be favorable. I had not, however, received as yet any reply to my proposal for the revision of the note by the two Cabinets. If direct explanations with the Vienna Cabinet proved impossible, I was ready to fall in with the British proposal, or any other proposal of a kind likely to lead to a favorable settlement of the dispute. (Signed) SAZONOF. No. 33. Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs to Russian Ambassadors at Paris, London, Berlin, Vienna, and Rome (Telegram) ST. PETERSBURG, July 14 (27), 1914. I have taken note of the reply returned by the Servian Government to Baron Giesl. It exceeds all our expectations in its moderation, and in its desire to afford the fullest satisfaction to Austria. We do not see what further demands could be made by Austria, unless the Vienna Cabinet is seeking for a pretext for war with Servia. (Signed) SAZONOF. No. 34. Russian Chargé d'Affaires at Paris to Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Telegram) PARIS, July 14 (27), 1914. The German Ambassador discussed the situation again to-day at great length with the Director of the Political Department. The Ambassador laid great stress on the utter impossibility of any mediation or conference. No. 35. (Signed) SEVASTOPOULO. Russian Ambassador at Paris to Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Telegram) PARIS, July 14 (27), 1914. I discussed the situation with the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, in the presence of Berthelot, directly after my return to Paris. They both confirmed the information respecting the action taken by the German Ambassador, which Sevastopoulo has already telegraphed to you. This morning Baron von Schoen confirmed his declaration of yesterday in writing, i. e.: 1. That Austria has declared to Russia that she seeks no territorial acquisitions and that she harbors no designs against the integrity of Servia. Her sole object is to secure her own peace and quiet. 2. That consequently it rests with Russia to avoid war. 3. That Germany and France, entirely at one in their ardent desire to preserve peace, should exercise their moderating influence upon Russia. Baron von Schoen laid special emphasis on the expression of solidarity of Germany and France. The Minister of Justice is convinced that these steps on the part of Germany are taken with the evident object of alienating Russia and France, of inducing the French Government to make representations at St. Petersburg, and of thus compromising our ally in our eyes; and finally, in the event of war, of throwing the responsibility not on Germany, who is ostensibly making every effort to maintain peace, but on Russia and France. (Signed) IswoLSKY. No. 36. Russian Ambassador at Paris to Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Telegram) PARIS, July 14 (27), 1914. It is clear from your telegrams of the 13th (26th) July that you were not then aware of the reply of the Servian Government. The telegram from Belgrade informing me of it also took twenty hours to reach us. The telegram from the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, sent the day before yesterday at 11 o'clock in the morning, at the special urgent rate, which contained instructions to support our representations, only reached its destination at 6 o'clock. There is no doubt that this telegram was intentionally delayed by the Austrian telegraph office. (Signed) IswoLSKY. No. 37. Russian Ambassador at Paris to Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Telegram) PARIS, July 14 (27), 1914. On the instructions of his government, the Austrian Ambassador has informed the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs that Servia's answer |