Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/825

 Origin oj the War of -1914 613 Bosnia. The Serbian government had warned the archduke not to go there, because it feared that hot-headed pro-Serbian con- spirators might attempt an assassination. Austria nevertheless asserted that Serbia had favored such conspiracies and was there- fore responsible for the assassination. It allowed a month to pass, however, before making formal protest. 1113. The Austrian Ultimatum (July 23, 1914). On July 23 Austria sent Serbia not a protest but an ultimatum. It gave Serbia forty-eight hours in which to agree to suppress anti-Austrian propaganda in press, schools, or by societies ; to dismiss from the army or civil office anyone obnoxious to Austria ; and to allow Austrian officials to sit in Serbian courts in order to bring the guilty to justice. Serbia agreed to all these humiliating condi- tions except the last, and offered to refer even that to the Hague Tribunal. This Austria refused to do, and this decision was cheered in Vienna. 1114. The Position of Germany. The last week of July, 1914, was perhaps the most momentous in the world's history. It was clear that Russia would not stand by and see Serbia conquered by Austria. Germany, on the other hand, declared that she would assist Austria in every way if attacked by Russia. She resisted the efforts of the Russian, French, and English diplomats, who urged that the difficulties between Austria and Serbia be referred to the Hague Tribunal, and insisted that it was Austria's affair, which she must be allowed to settle for herself. She did nothing to stop the impending war, as she might have done. On the contrary, she gave the Austrians full support, knowing very well that it might lead to an armed conflict. Her leaders seem to have felt that they were ready for war, no matter on how large a scale; and they well knew that Russia had not finished her preparations, nor France either. As for England, she had only a trifling army. 1115. Germany violates Belgian Neutrality. As soon as Austria declared war on Serbia, July 28, Russia began rapidly to mobilize, and Germany, claiming this to be an attack on her, declared war on Russia, August i. On the same day she