Page:The guilt of William Hohenzollern.djvu/144

140 '''on to my shoulders. I repudiate it.—W.],''' to recognize Serbia's good-will in the undertakings given, and to let the disputed points go for decision before the Powers or the Hague Arbitration Court. '''[Idiotic. W.]''' Your Kaiser's return has greatly reassured us all, for we trust H.M. and desire no war, nor does the Tsar Nicolas. It would be well if the two monarchs were to come to an understanding by telegram.' '''[Has been done. Whether an understanding will result, I doubt.—W.]''' This is the view of one of the most influential men at head-quarters, and no doubt the view of the whole environment."

We see that also on the 2Qth William still persisted in denouncing an appeal to the Hague or a conference of the Powers as "idiotic." On the other hand, he is himself doubtful whether direct negotiations of Germany with Russia offer any prospect of success. Accordingly he seems to anticipate a general war as something inevitable, and is anxious, as his comments reveal, not about this fact, but lest through Austria's stupidity he may be burdened with the odium of having brought it about. Nor is it always clear from Bethmann's statements whether he really had the maintenance of peace at heart, or whether, after Bismarck's fashion in 1871, he was anxious that the others should appear as the lamb that had troubled the water. Recollect the telegram of July 27th to Tschirschky, in which he says that we "must appear in the light of having the war forced on us."

The telegram which the Imperial Chancellor sent to the Ambassador in Vienna on July 28th is pitched in the same key. He complains that, in spite of repeated