Page:The guilt of William Hohenzollern.djvu/145

Rh inquiries, Austria has left Germany in the dark concerning her intentions.

""The Serbian Government's reply to the Austrian Ultimatum, now to hand, shows that Serbia is willing to meet the Austrian demands to such a comprehensive extent that in the case of a completely intransigeant attitude on the part of the Austro-Hungarian Government a gradual estrangement from her of public opinion throughout Europe must be reckoned with.

"According to the statements of the Austrian General Staff, an active military advance against Serbia will not be possible until August 12th. The Imperial [German] Government is therefore placed in the extraordinarily difficult position of being exposed, in the meantime, to the mediation and conference proposals of the other Cabinets, and (if she adheres to her present attitude of reserve in respect of such proposals) of being covered before the world, and ultimately also in the eyes of the German people, with the odium of having caused a world- war. Now on such a basis we cannot launch a successful war on three fronts. It is imperative that the responsibility for any extension of the conflict to those not directly concerned should, in all circumstances, devolve upon Russia.""

Bethmann-Hollweg, therefore, advised Vienna to reiterate her definite declaration that she did not seek territorial acquisitions in Serbia, and desired to occupy Belgrade and several points in Serbia only temporarily as guarantee for the fulfilment of the Austrian demands.