The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-02

foreign secretary) started g. new pro- ject for four-sided mediation, a pro- ject in which Russia joined at the de- mand of France. M. von Jagow, to whom this project was communicated evaded 1t by declaring that while he adhered to it's principle, it was neces- sary to find a formula that would be acceptable to Austria He was then invited to formulate himself a pro- posal. of settlement, but he again would consult the Vienna cabinet on this point.
 Sir Edward Gray, whose spirit of conciliation seemed indefa4gab1es then came forward with a new compronais- sary proposition which provided that all the powers should call 9 halt to their military preparations. Further more, Russia gave fresh evidence oe her desire to maintain the peace of Europe by offering to maintain an at- titude of expectation if Austria would engage not to undertake any measures directed against the sovereignty of Servia. even after having occupied Belgrade.
 s.It was then that the cabinet of Vienna. perhaps fearful of conse- Quences, declared for the first time that it was ready to discuss with Eu- rope the Fundamental principle of it's difference with Servia- At the very moment that his work in the direction of reciprocal concessions seemed to warrant a last hope of peace. an ir- reparable movement on the part of Germany promised to endanger defi- nitely the results acquired with so much labor, and to force the crisis to a violent solution.
 "At the beginning of the conflict Germany had commenced military preparations and she continued them Ta A ment when her representatives in foreign countries were protesting her pacific intentions, the S1st of July in the evening, Germany addressed to the Russian government an u1timatuYn giving Russia twelve hours in which to demobi1ize on her Austrian as we'll as on her German frontiers. The aI- mobilize. This was done at a time when the Russian government had given evidence of it's conci1iatory atti- tude and at time when Austria-Hun- gary was showing herself disposed to discuss with Europe the question of her note to Servia-
 There could be no doubt as to the answer to such an ultimatum. From that moment the cause of peace was definitely lost. the reason being this precipitate action on the part Of Ger many. The obligations of alliances had to be observed. and the great powers were drawn into the fatal oon- flict.
 Events which then took place are fresh in the memory of everyone. On the 31st Of July there were acts Of hostility, clearly defined. on our from tier; the End of August saw the viola ton of the neutrality of LuxemburR and the entrance by German troops upon three points of our territory. while our troops were holding them selves st distance of ten kiIoneterH (six miIes) from the frontier. Tine same day Belgium was summoned to permit Germany's military operations against France. Finally, on the 3rd Of August the declaration Of war was brought by NJ von Schoen to the Quay d'Orsay, which act preceded by a short time only the violation Of the neutrality Of Belgium.
 Tn the light of the documents con tained in this Yellow Book. the roles played by the different powers in this European crisis show up with striking clearnesss It is scarcely necessary again to emphasize the responsibilities of Austria, primal cause Of the con f1ict. The responsibilities of Germany are even more crushing, in spite of the fact that in the beginning she stood for the second plan.s The reason for this lis that Germany systematically avoided every opportunity to discuss measures. of conciliation- She forced Austria. to an intransigeant attitude and she made the war inevitable by moment when the basis of direct agreement between Austria and Rus ssia had been found and accepted by these two powers
 From fhe beginning. Germany de- cIared that she was in ignorance of the contents of the Austrian note (to Servia'. but at the same time she voiced her resolve to approve it and sustain all it's pretentions.
 When the Russian government showed that public opinion and the historic traditions of Russia did not permit it to turn deaf ear to the fate of Seryia, Germany endeayored to force France. by intimidation. to associate herself with the exerting of same time she refused to undertake like steps at Vienna
 .sWhen Sir Edward Grey proposed four-power mediation the German government refused to consider his proposal; the first time under the pre- text that she thought preferable the opinfng of direct negotiations between Vienna and St Petersburg, and the second time she refused under the preteu that such a conference was not acceptable to Vienna, and that the British proposal was not in very prao- sticable form When finally Germany perceived, in spite of all her dilatory proceedings, that the conflict was pro- gressdng toward a settlement, to be effected by the conciliatory efforts of Russia and England, which finally had been accepted by Ausfrfa-Hun- gary, she preci pitated the rupture by hurling at Russia an uitinatun colched in unacceptable terms.
 ssFrance with an indefatigab1e good will, associated herself with the great est sincerity with every effort made to compose the conflict, She counseled Servia in the line of wisdom; she en- deavored necessarily at St. Petersburg to strengthen her ally. Russia, in her attitude of moderation, and she took part in all the peaceful endeavors