Page:The guilt of William Hohenzollern.djvu/81

Rh of the two methods of procedure which were here in question with regard to the approaching action against Serbia. His Majesty had suggested that perhaps this opposition could be bridged over. On the whole, His Majesty was rather inclined to the opinion that concrete demands should be made on Serbia. [Very much so, and unambiguously!—W.] He, the Minister, would not fail to appreciate the advantages of such steps. They would thereby avoid the odium of taking Serbia by surprise, an odium which would fall on the Monarchy, and Serbia would be placed in the wrong. These measures would also make a neutral attitude easier both for Rumania and for England.

“The drawing up of suitable demands on Serbia is at present the chief concern here. [They have had plenty of time for that!—W.] Count Berchtold said he would like to know what Berlin was thinking on the subject. He thought that among other things an agency of the Austrian Government could be established in Belgrade to keep an eye upon the Great Serbian intrigues and possibly see to the breaking up of associations and the dismissal of some [All.—W.] of the compromised officers. The time allowed for reply must be the shortest possible, probably forty-eight hours. Of course, even this short time would be sufficient in Belgrade to get instructions from St. Petersburg. [Hartwig is dead!—W.] If the Serbians should accept all the demands presented to them, that would be a solution which would be ‘very disagreeable’ to him, and he was thinking what demands could be presented which would be completely impossible for Serbia to accept. [Evacuate the Saniak!