WAR- CHRONICLE

27
clearly to the Minister that in his opinion the Entente Powers
demanded here from Austro-Hungary that which they did not allow
to he demanded from Servia. In other words, to yield under pressure
of military force. Under such conditions it was impossible for the
conference to be looked upon in an agreeable light by Germany
and Austro-Hungary. In spite of this, Germany declared in London
that she would accept the proposal of an intervention of the Four
Powers in principal, but the form of a conference was repugnant
to her. At the same time the. German Ambassador in Petersburg
urged Sasanow to make some concessions on his side, so that a.
compromise could be arranged. It is a well known fact that these
efforts remained fruitless.
Russia, itself did not appear to lay any value on the further
mediatory activity of Germany in Vienna, which was carried, on to
the last. In the night from 30 Ul —31 st July it ordered the mobilisation
of its entire military forces, which was bound to have Germany's
mobilisation and declaration of war as a, consequence.
In face of this course of events it is impossible to understand
how a responsible statesman has the courage to maintain that
Germany, who found herself surrounded by the Russian mobilisation,
the military measures taken by France, and the mobilisation of the
English Fleet, could have saved the situation in favour of peace, by
accepting a conference on 31 st July, held under the auspices of the
Entente Powers supported by military force. It was not Germany,
who worked for peace up to the last moment in Vienna, who
frustrated the idea of an intervention of the Four Powers, but the
military measures taken by the Entente Powers, who—though with
words they advocated peace—were really resolved on war.
von Bethmann Hollweg.
4*