Page:The guilt of William Hohenzollern.djvu/82

78 '''Then you will have a row at once! Austria must by all means get this back at once and so prevent the union of Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia's reaching the sea.—W.]'''

“In conclusion, the Minister again complained of the attitude of Count Tisza, which made it difficult for him to take energetic measures against Serbia. Count Tisza maintained that one must proceed in a ‘gentlemanlike’ manner. [Against murderers, after what has taken place?—W.] This, however, was a very difficult course to take when such important interests of State were in question, and especially against such an opponent as Serbia.

“The Minister would willingly follow the suggestion of the Imperial Government, to start at once to tune up public opinion at home through the Press against Serbia, about which Count Szögyeny has telegraphed. This, however, in his opinion, must be done with caution, so as not to alarm Serbia prematurely.

“The Minister of War is going away on leave to-morrow, and Freiherr Conrad von Hötzendorf will also go away from Vienna for a time. This is being done, as Count Berchtold told me, on purpose [Childish!—W.], so as to prevent any cause of alarm. '''[Much the same as at the time of the Silesian Wars. ‘I am opposed to Councils of War and deliberations, since the more timid party always gets the upper hand’ (Frederick the Great.)—W.]”'''

One can see from William's marginal comments his approval that it should be made impossible for Serbia to submit, but also his impatience that Austria is not yet