Page:The guilt of William Hohenzollern.djvu/176

172 as the dispute was confined to Austria and Russia, would stand aside. '''[This means, we are to leave Austria in the lurch. Most mean and Mephistophelean But genuinely English.—W.]''' But if we and France became involved, the situation would at once be altered, and in certain circumstances the British Government might find itself forced to take rapid decisions. [Taken already.—W.] In this case, it would not do to stand aside and wait long. [i.e., they will fall upon us.—W.] If war broke out, it would be the greatest catastrophe which the world had ever seen. He was far from wishing to use any kind of threat, he only wished to protect me from disappointments and himself from the reproach of insincerity '''[Failed completely. He has been insincere all these years down to his latest speech.—W.]''', and therefore chose (to communicate this to me in) the form of a private conversation.

"Sir Edward Grey added, however, that the Government [We also!—W.] must take account of public [Newly created!—W.] opinion. [If they wish it, they can turn and direct public opinion, as the Press absolutely obeys them.—W.] So far, this had been, on the whole, favourable to Austria, as the justice of a certain degree of satisfaction was recognized, but now it was beginning to swing round completely as a result of Austrian stubbornness. [With the help of the Jingo Press!—W.]

"To my Italian colleague, who has just left me, Sir Edward Grey said he believed if mediation were undertaken Austria would be able to procure every possible satisfaction; there would be no