Page:The guilt of William Hohenzollern.djvu/77

Rh and von Lyncker, the Chief of the Military Cabinet, to come to Potsdam. It was there resolved that measures should be avoided which would tend to give rise to political sensation, or would cause special expenditure.”

Then on July 6th the Emperor had a conversation at Potsdam with Capelle, who was acting for Tirpitz, at that time absent.

This, to the smallest details, is what Bussche notes down. By this the darkness which hangs over the “Separate Conversations” at Potsdam is not yet fully removed. They certainly could not be called Crown Councils. On the contrary, according to all appearances William decided independently in this fatal hour. What followed might rather be described as a Council of War. It might also be called a conspiracy against Serbia and Russia at the least, if not against the peace of the world.