Grand Forks daily herald and the evening times., 1914-08-22
Blue BOOK SHOWS
bR|TA|N'S EFFORT
London Early Saw Perils of
Servian Trouble and Strove
to Prevent Ultimatum

1 oSSS1kSJ "ooNSh IN PoeNo " -
159 documents upon which the Brit
ish foreign office rested It's case.
The record comprises the confiden-
tial kilograms exchanged between Sir
Edward Grey, Great Britain's foreign
minister, n the English ambassa-
dors at the courts involved in the war.
or interested in it's prevention. Brit
ish, German, French, Russian. Aus
TRAN n Italian diplomatic views, as
communicated to the ambassadors and
by them transmitted to the foreign
office, with illuminating comment, are
set forth. Each nations grounds for
fighting with a "clear conscience" are
stated.
Germany With Austria.
Germany is shown unalterably In
sympathy with Austria-Hungary in
her quarrel with Servia; Germany,
confident to the last stages of negotia-
Britain's neutrality: Germany bidding
for British neutrality at the expense
Of France, and being offered in turn
the possibility of a friendly alliance
If the peace of Europe could be pre-
served.
mined to administer a beating to Ser
via and expecting Europe to keep
hands off; Russia willing to let. Ser
via be classified but demurring at
Austria's doing the chastizing and up
setting the equilibrium OF the Balkan
states.
Starts With Grey's Note.
The Blue Book record starts with
Sir Edward Grey's note to Sir Edward
Guschen. British ambassador to Ber-
lin, on July 20-three days before the
Austrian ultimatum was delivered
advising that he "hates the idea of a
war between any of the great powers,
and that any of them SHOULD be drag
ged into a war by Servia would be
d~etestable." Thus early did England
foresee the dangers of the Servian en-
broglio.
Germany is Reluctant.
Germany was reluctant to interfere,
Sir Edward Guschen te~legraphed from
Berlin on July 90 that the German
secretary of state for foreign affairs
expressed the opinion that there
should be no interference from the
outside in the discussions between
those two countries austria and Ser
via); he had, therefore, considered
1t ~inadvisable that the Austro-Hunga-
rian government should be approach
ed by the German government OF the
matter"
On July 23-just before the Aus
TRAN ultimatum was issued-Sir Ed
ward was informed by County Mems
dorff, the Austro-Hungarian ambas-
aador to London, hat the note would
contain a time limit.
Difficulty in Time Limit.
CTR Edward telegraphed to the Brit
ish ambassador in Vienna, Sir Maui
rice de Bunsen, at great length the
views he had expressed to Count
Mensdorff of the grave danger to the
peace of Europe in the sending of
such an ultimatum, as the time limit
which turned out to be only forty
eight hours, to 6 p. m. of July 25-
would make it difficult If not impos-
sible to grant more time for peaceful
negotiations.
Count Mensdorff did not demur to
this statement of the possible conse-
quences Of the present situation" adj
ded Sir Edward. "but he said tina all
would depend on Russia"
Servia Pushed Too Hard.
July "a, after the ultimatum had
been communicated to the foreign
Office, Sir Edward telegraphed to the
British ambassador at Vienna the
view, sustained throughout the CORE
spondence, that Austria was pressing
Servia too hard.
The murder Of the archduke and
some Of the circumstances respecting
Servia quoted in the note aroused
sympathy with Austria, as was nat
ural," said Sir Edward in telegraph
ing the substance of his conversation
With the Austrian ambassador to the
British representative at Vienna. But
at the same time / had never seen be-
fore II state address to another in
dependent state a document of so
formidable a character. Demand No.
5 would be hardly consistent with the
maintenance of Servia's Independent
sovereignty If 1t were to mean, as 1t
nn0nHnl fhot ~ YnfohS thnt A-t~l4
Hungary was to be invested with a
right to appoint officials who would
have authority within the frontiers of
Servia."
Pressure by Russia.
A telegram of Sir George Buchan-
an. British ambassador to st. Peters
burg, dated July "a, to Sir Edward
ish foreign minister as stating Eng
lands position correctly. reveals the
pressure brought from Russian quar-
ters to induce England to declare her
self early In the game as opposed to
Germany. The telegram tells Of a con-
ference with NJ. sazonoff, the Russian
foreign minister, the Frenc hambas-
sador and himself at the French en-
bassy. He reported in part as fol-
lows:
Austria Consulted Germany.
Minister for foreign affairs said that
Austria's conduct was both provoca-
tive and immoral. She never would
have taken such action unless Ger
man. had first been consulted: some
OF her demands were quite impossi-
bic of acceptance. He hoped that
his majesty's government would not
fail to proclaim their solidarity with
Russia and France.
I said that / could not, Of course,
speak in the name Of his majesty's
government, but personally I saw no
reason to expect IN declaration Of
solidarity from his majesty's govern
11ent that would entail an uncondi-
support Russia and France by force
Of arms.
influence on, Austria.
said that 1t seemed to me that the
important point was to induce Austria
TO extend the time limit, and that the
first thing to do was to bring an in
Auence to bear on Austria with that
end in view.
The French ambassador, however,
Thought that either Austria had made
up her mind to act at once, or that she
was blufang. Whichever It might be,
our only chance OF averting war was
Tor us to adopt a Arm and united atti-
tIde. He did not think there was time
TO carry out my suggestion.
Pressed for Declaration.
ambassador and NJ. Sazono1
SI6yeion OF complete solidarity OF his
MAa34Atys government with French
and Russian governments, and I there
s$4Fo said that II seemed to me posi-
He that syou might perhaps be Will
~ % mako Str6hg Representations
a both Gssmau and AustfiAns govern