Page:The guilt of William Hohenzollern.djvu/146

142 ""Should the Russian Government not recognize the justice of this standpoint, it would have against it the public opinion of all Europe, which is turning against Austria. As a further consequence the general diplomatic and, probably, also the military situation would shift very materially in Austria-Hungary's favour.

"Your Excellency will, by return, make an explicit statement to this effect to Count Berchtold, and suggest a corresponding démarche in St. Petersburg. In doing so, you must carefully avoid arousing the impression that we wished to hold Austria back. It is solely a question of finding a modus operandi that will facilitate the realization of Austria-Hungary's aim, to undermine the foundations of the Great-Serbian propaganda, without at the same time letting loose a world-war; and, if it cannot be finally averted, to improve for us, as far as feasible, the conditions under which it is to be waged.""

It maybe acknowledged that it is difficult to decide what the Imperial Chancellor had more at heart on July 28th: whether to avoid the world- war or "to improve for us, as far as feasible, the conditions under which it is to be waged."

William himself did not take a very accommodating attitude in respect of the appeal for help addressed to him by the Tsar in his first telegram of July 2gth. It runs in the German translation:

"" Neues Palais.

"I am glad that you are back. In this so grave moment I implore you to help me. A discreditable