message to London that, direct discussions between St. Petersburg and Vienna having ended, the London Cabinet should again put forward their proposal for mediation by the Powers as soon as possible under one form or another. Before seeing me to-day Viviani saw the German Ambassador, and the latter again assured him of the peaceful intentions of Germany. Viviani having pointed out that if Germany wished for peace she should hasten to give her support to the British proposal for mediation, Baron von Schoen replied that the words "conference" or "arbitration" alarmed Austria. Viviani retorted that it was not a question of words, and that it would be easy to find some other form for mediation. In the opinion of Baron von Schoen, it was necessary for the success of the negotiations between the Powers to know what Austria intended to demand from Servia. Viviani answered that the Berlin Cabinet could quite easily make this enquiry of Austria, but that, meanwhile, the Servian reply might well form the basis of discussion; he added that France sincerely desired peace, but that she was determined at the same time to act in complete harmony with her allies and friends, and that he, Baron von Schoen, might have convinced himself that this determination met with the warmest approval of the country. (Signed) IswOLSKY. No. 56. Telegram from His Royal Highness Prince Alexander of Servia to His Majesty the Emperor of Russia Deeply touched by the telegram which your Majesty was pleased to address to me yesterday, I hasten to thank you with all my heart. Your Majesty may rest assured that the cordial sympathy which your Majesty feels towards my country is especially valued by us, and fills our hearts with the belief that the future of Servia is secure now that it is the object of your Majesty's gracious solicitude. These painful moments cannot but strengthen the bonds of deep attachment which bind Servia to Holy Slav Russia, and the sentiments of everlasting gratitude which we feel for the help and protection afforded to us by your Majesty will ever be cherished in the hearts of all the Serbs. (Signed) ALEXANDER. No. 57. Russian Chargé d'Affaires in Servia to Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs NISH, July 16 (29), 1914. I have communicated to Pashitch the text of the telegraphic reply returned by His Majesty the Emperor to Prince Alexander. On reading it, Pashitch crossed himself and exclaimed: "The Czar is great and merciful!" He then embraced me and was overcome with emotion. The heir-apparent is expected at Nish late to-night. (Signed) STRANDTMAN. No. 58. Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs to Russian Ambassador at Paris (Telegram) ST. PETERSBURG, July 16 (29), 1914. The German Ambassador to-day informed me of the decision of his government to mobilize, if Russia did not stop her military preparations. Now, in point of fact, we only began these preparations in consequence of the mobilization already undertaken by Austria, and owing to her evident unwillingness to accept any means of arriving at a peaceful settlement of her dispute with Servia. As we cannot comply with the wishes of Germany, we have no alternative but to hasten on our own military preparations and to assume that war is probably inevitable. Please inform the French Government of this, and add that we are sincerely grateful to them for the declaration which the French Ambassador made to me on their behalf, to the effect that we could count fully upon the assistance of our ally, France. In the existing circumstances, that declaration is especially valuable to us. Communicated to the Russian Ambassadors in Great Britain, AustriaHungary, Italy, and Germany. (Signed) SAZONOF. No. 59. Russian Chargé d'Affaires in Servia to Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs NISH, July 17 (30), 1914. The Prince Regent yesterday published a manifesto, signed by all the Servian Ministers on the declaration of war by Austria against Servia. The manifesto ends with the following words: "Defend your homes and Servia with all your might." At the solemn opening of the Skupchtina the Regent read the speech from the throne, in his own name. At the beginning of his speech he pointed out that the place of their convocation showed the importance of present events. He followed this with a summary of recent events the Austrian ultimatum, the Servian reply, the efforts of the Servian Government to do their utmost to avoid war that was compatible with the dignity of the state, and, finally, the armed aggression of their most powerful neighbor against Servia, at whose side stood Montenegro. Passing in review the attitude of the Powers towards the dispute, the Prince emphasized in the first place the sentiments which animated Russia, and the gracious communication from His Majesty the Emperor that Russia would in no case abandon Servia. At each mention of His Majesty the Czar and of Russia the hall resounded with loud bursts of wild cheering. The sympathy shown by France and England was also touched upon in turn, and called forth approving plaudits from the members. The speech from the throne ended by declaring the Skupchtina open, and by expressing the hope that everything possible would be done to lighten the task before the government. (Signed) STRANDTMAN. No. 60. Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs to Russian Ambassadors at Berlin, Vienna, Paris, London, and Rome (Telegram) ST. PETERSBURG, July 17 (30), 1914. The German Ambassador, who has just left me, has asked whether Russia would not be satisfied with the promise which Austria might give that she would not violate the integrity of the Kingdom of Servia -and whether we could not indicate upon what conditions we would agree to suspend our military preparations. I dictated to him the following declaration to be forwarded to Berlin for immediate action: "If Austria, recognizing that the Austro-Servian question has become a question of European interest, declares herself ready to eliminate from her ultimatum such points as violate the sovereign rights of Servia, Russia undertakes to stop her military preparations." Please inform me at once by telegraph what attitude the German Government will adopt in face of this fresh proof of our desire to do the utmost possible for a peaceful settlement of the question, for we cannot allow such discussions to continue solely in order that Germany and Austria may gain time for their military preparations. (Signed) SAZONOF. No. 61. Russian Ambassador at Berlin to Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Telegram) BERLIN, July 17 (30), 1914. I learn that the order for the mobilization of the German army and navy has just been issued. No. 62. (Signed) SWERBEEW. Russian Ambassador at Berlin to Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Telegram) BERLIN, July 17 (30), 1914. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has just telephoned that the news of the mobilization of the German army and fleet, which has just been announced, is false; that the news sheets had been printed in advance so as to be ready for all eventualities, and that they were put on sale in the afternoon, but that they have now been confiscated. (Signed) SWERBEEW. No. 63. Russian Ambassador at Berlin to Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Telegram) BERLIN, July 17 (30), 1914. I have received your telegram of 16th (29th) July, and have communicated the text of your proposal to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, whom I have just seen. He told me that he had received an identic telegram from the German Ambassador at St. Petersburg, and he then declared that he considered it impossible for Austria to accept our proposal. (Signed) SWERBEEW. No. 64. Russian Ambassador at London to Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Telegram) LONDON, July 17 (30), 1914. I have communicated the substance of your telegrams of the 16th (29th) and 17th (30th) July to Grey, who looks upon the situation as most serious, but wishes to continue the discussions. I pointed out to Grey that since you agreed with him to accept whatever proposal he might make in order to preserve peace, provided that Austria did not profit by any ensuing delays to crush Servia-the situation in which you were placed had apparently been modified. At that time our relations with Germany had not been compromised. After the declaration made by the German Ambassador at St. Petersburg regarding German mobilization, those relations had changed, and you had returned the only reply to his request that was possible from a great Power. When the German Ambassador again visited you, and enquired what your conditions were, you had formulated them in altogether special circumstances. I also again emphasized to Grey the necessity of taking into consideration the new situation brought about by the fault of Germany in consequence of the German Ambassador's action. Grey replied that he fully understood this, and that he would remember these arguments. (Signed) BENCKENDORFF. |