The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-08-26
solidarity with Russia and France.

solidarity with Russia and France.
Il said that I could not, OF course
speak in the name of his Majesty
government, but personally 1 saw NJ
reason to expect any declaration o.
solidarity from His Majesty's govern
ment that would entail an uncondi
tional engagement on their part tc
support Russia and France by force
of arms.
Il said that it seemed to me thai
the important point was to induce
Austria to extend the time limit, and
| that the first thing to do was to bring
an influence to bear on Austria with
that end in view.
1.-The French ambassador, however
thought that either Austria had made
up her mind to act at once or that
she was bllfing. Whichever it might
be, our only chance of ayerting war
was for us to adopt a firm and unit.
ed attitude. He did not think there
was time to carry out my suggestion.
Pressed for Declaration.
French ambassador and NJ. Saz-
onff both continued to press me for a
declaration of complete solidarity OF
His Majesty's government with
French and Russian governments,
and therefore said that it seemed
to me possible that you might per-
hapsqbe willing to make strong repre-
sentations to both German and Aus
trian governments, urging upon them
that an attack upon Austria by Ser
via would endanger the whole peace
Of Europe. Perhaps you might see
your way to saying to them that such
action on the part Of Austria would
probably mean Russian intervention,
which would involve France and Ger
many, and that it would be difficult
for Great Britain to keep out if the
war were to become general.
M Sazonoff answered that we
would sooner or later be dragged into
war if it did break out; we should
have rendered war more likely if we
did not from the outset make COM
mon cause with his country and with
France; at any rate, he hoped His
Majesty's government would express
strong reprobation of action taken
by Austria.
president of French republic and
President of the Council can not
reach France, on their return from
Russia, for four or five days, and it
looks as though Austria purposely
chose this moment to present their
ultimatum.
1T seems to me, from the Ian
guage held by French ambassador,
that, even if we decline to join them,
France and Russia are determined
to make strong stand"
Where Germany Stood.
A note communicated by the Ger
man ambassador to the British for
eign Office, July "a, leaves no doubt
where Germany stood in support Of
Austria's claims. 1t sums up the.
Austrian contention in part as fol-
lows:
ut has become clearly evident that
it would not be consistent either with
the dignity or with the self-preserVa-
ton of the Austro-Hungarian mon
archy still longer to remain inactive
in face of this movement on the othe9
side of the frontier, by which the
security and the integrity of her ter
ritories are constantly menaced. I'm
der these circumstances the course
of procedure and demands Of the
Austro-Hungarian government can
only be regarded as equitable and
moderate"
The German note emphasized the
view that it was a quarrel for Aus
tria and Servia to fight out, and that
1.-The Imperial government desires
urgently the localization OF the con-
fict, because every interference OF
another power would, owing to the
different treaty obligations, be fol-
lowed by incalculable consequences.
Situation Seemed Hopeless.
How hopeless the situation really
seemed to the opposing interests is
indicated in note Of Sir Edward
Grey to Sir Francis Bertie, British
ambassador to Paris, on July "a. Sir
Edward informed his Paris repre-
sentative that he would say to the
German ambassador, "who some
days ago had asked me privately to
exercise moderating influence in st.
Petersburg, s'that ''if Russia took the
view of the Austrian ultimatum
which it seemed to me that any pow
er interested in Servia would take, 1
should be quite powerless, in face OF
the terms of the ultimatum, to eXer-
else any moderatins influence"
Then appears for the first tine, on
July "a, Sir Edwards suggestion that
the only way to preserve peace would
be for Germany, France, Italy and
Great Britain, each having no direct
interest in Servia, to bring influence
to bear simultaneously on Vienna
and St. Petersburg.
Again, on July 25, Russia 1mpor-
tuned Great Britain to declare her
self openly with her allies, Russia
and France. Sir George Buchanan
British ambassador, telegraphed on
this date from St. Petersburg to Sir
Edward Grey in part as follows:
Disclaims Russian Aggression.
"on nv expressing the earnest