Page:Diplomacy and the War (Andrassy 1921).djvu/80

 the scene as the protector of France, it cannot be denied that British policy was rather a harbinger of caution than the herald of war.

Even during the last crisis, England appears to have pursued a careful policy, as she succeeded in avoiding any obligation up to the last moment which forced her to give active support to France, without losing the confidence of her allies.

The Russian Ambassador wired, on July 27, that the confidence which Berlin and Vienna had reposed in England's neutrality was justified no longer. At the same time he does not appear to have counted positively upon England's assistance. On the 30th, that is to say on the day before the French Ambassador, Cambon, was told by Sir Edward Grey that he was not in a position to promise that England would participate in the campaign, Cambon said to Benckendorf that he believed the position in Parliament was not sufficiently defined for Grey to speak openly at present. This was known to mean that the Government was not yet able to state with certainty that it would support Russia and France. The Russian Ambassador said on the 30th: "Grey sees the position clearly," and knows "that caution is necessary." Public opinion regarded the whole of the Serbian affair as purely a Slav question, and the Government could not participate as long as public opinion was not behind it. Only if France became endangered could the question be decided in England. "The affair with Serbia" had no weight in public opinion. "In the