Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-10-16

that no effort should have been made
to secure by means Of diplomatic ne
gptiations the acquiescence of Russia
and Europe as whole in some peace.
ful compromise Of the Servian ques-
ton by which Austrian, fears of Ser
vain aggression and intrigue might
have been removed for the future. In
stead OF adopting this course the Aus
tro-Hungarian government resolved
upon war. The inevitable consequence
ensued Russia replied to partial
Austrian mobilization and declaration
of war against Seryia by partial Rus
sian mobilization against Austria. Aus
tria met this move by completing her
own mobilization, and Russia again re-
sponded with results which have pass
ed into history. The fate of the pro-
posals put forward by his majesty's
government for the preservation of
peace is recorded in the White Paper
on the European crisis. On the 2Sth
of July / saw Count Berchtold and
urged as strongly as could that the
scheme of mediation mentioned in your
speech in the house of commons on
the previous day should be accepted
as offering an honorable and peaceful
settlement OF the question at issue.
His excellency himself read to me a
telegraphic report Of the speech, but
added that matters had gone too far;
Austria was that day declaring war
on Servia, and she could never accept
the conference which you had suggest
ed should take place between the less
interested powers on the basis of the
Seryian reply. This was matter
which must be settled directly between
the two parties Immediately concerned
! said his majesty's government would
hear with regret that hostilities could
not be arrested, as You feared they
would lead to European complications.
dfsclaimed any British lack of SYM
pathy with Austria in the matter Of
her legitimate grievances against Ser
via, and pointed out that, whereas Aus
tria seemed to be making these the
starting point of her policy, his majes-
TVS government was bound to look at
the question primarily from the point
OF view OF the maintenance of the
peace OF Europe. In this way the two
countries might easily drift apart.
Austria Determined on Aggression.
His excellency said that he. too.
was keeping the European aspect OF
the question In sight He thought
however, that Russia would have no
right to intervene after receiving HIS
assurance that Austria sought no ter
ritorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT His excellen-
cy remarked to me in the course of
his conversation that, though he had
been glad TO cooperate towards bring
ing about the settlement which had re-
suited from the ambassadorial con-
fereneee in London during the Balkan
crisis, he had never had much belief
in the permanency Of that settlement,
which was necessarily of a highly arti-
fetal character, inasmuch as. the In
.terests which it sought to harmonic
we're in themselves profoundly dfverg.
ent. HIS excellency maintained a most
friendly demeanor throughout the in
tefyiew. but left no doubt in my mind
as to the determination Of the Aus
tro-Hungarian government to proceed
with the invasion Of Servia.
The German government claims to
have perseyered to the end in the en-
deavor to support at Vienna your sue
Ecessiye proposals in the interest of
peace. Herr Won Tchirsky abstained
from inviting my cooperation or that
OF the French and Russian ambassa-
doris in carrying out his instructions to
that effect. and had no means of
knowing what response he was receiv-
ing from the Austr0-H Hungarian gov
eminent. was, however, kept fully
informed BY NJ. Schebeko, the Russian
ambassador, of his own direct negotia-
lions with Count Berchtold. M. Sches
beko endeavored on the 2Sth of July
to persuade the Austrian Hungarian
government to furnish Count Szapary
with full powers to continue at St.
Petersburg the hopeful conversations
which had there been taking place be-
tween the latter and M. Saz8nof Count
Berchtold refused at the time. but two
days later tJuly 30l, though in the
meantime Russia had partially mobi-
lized against Austria, he received M.
Schebek0 again, in perfectly friend
II manner and gave his consent to the
continuance Of the conversations at
St Petersburg From now EDWARDS
the tension between Russia and Ger
msny was much greater than between
Russia and Austria. AS between the
latter an arrangement seemed almost
In sight. and on the list OF August
was informed by M. Schebeko that
Count Szapary had at last conceded
the main point at issue by announcing
to M. Eazonof that Austria would con-
sent to submit to mediation the points
In the note to Servia which seemed
incompatible with the maintenance of
Servian independence. M. Sazonof, M.
Schebeko added, had accepted this
proposal on condition that Austria
would refrain from the actual invasion
of Seryia. Austria, in fact. had finally
Yielded, and that she herself had at
this point good hopes OF q peaceful is
sue is. shown by the communication
made to you on the LIST of August BY
Count Mensdorff, to the effect that
Austria had neither banged the door
on compromise nor cut off the CONVEX
sations. NJ. Sehebeko to the end was