New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-18
Further Light on Germany's Response.
blity.


The latest British white paper to be pub
lished furnishes new evidence that Germany pre-
cipitated a war that might have been avoided. Ac-
cOrdng to Sir Marie. de Runseny the British Am
bassador at Vienna. Russia and Austria were Oh
the point of composing their differences when
Germany declared var upon Russia. According 10
Sir Maurice the Russian Ambassador at Nierrna
informed him that the Austrian Foreign Office,
with which he was laboring to preserve peace,
after refusing on July % to permit its ambassador
at st. Petersburg to furnish Count Szapary, Its
representative at the Cars capital with full pow
ers to continue conversations with Russia con-
scented to do so two days later.
unfortunately" writes Sir Maurice, 'these con-
versations at st. Petersburg and Vienna were cut
short by the transfer of the dispute to the more
dangerous ground Of direct conflict between Ger
many and Russia Two days after Austria had
yielded to the point of resuming conversations IN
st. Petersburg Germany declared war on Russia
That was on August /, the day when the Kaiser
either was led to believe or pretended to believe,
on the basis Of telegram from his representative
in London, Prince Lichnowsky that England had
given him free hand TO deal with Russia by
guaranteeing the neutrality of France in case of
war between Russia and Germany. on condition
that Germany RETAINED from attacking France
/ On that date Prince Lichnowsky cabled the Ger
man Chancellor as follows:
! Sir Z. Grey just asked me by telephone whether L
believed to be in position to declare that we would
Russia in case Franc, should remain neutral de-
cered believed to be able to give such an under
isigncdJ LICHNOwsKY
/ The Kaiser on reading this message telegraphed
! a.,
the communication from your government Offering
French neutrality under guarantee OF Great Brit
ain" And Bethmann- Howeg telegraphed 10
Lichnowsky that Germany was ready to accept he
British proposal" IN case England would use her
armed forces to enforce the neutrality of France
which she offered to guarantee! War on Russia
was declared the same day. Its declaration seems
to bear close relation to the talk Of Sir Edward
Grey and the version u it telegraphed to Berth
by Lichnowsky. Austria was on re point of COM
promise when Germany, encouraged By what IL
read into the words of Sir Edward Grey struck
at Russia. 1t is not clear what the British For
eign Secretary had in mind when he discussed
Germany's course in France refrained from
helping her ally, Russia. But the telegram OF
Lichnowsky is very far from suggesting any offer
on the part of England Of neutrality on the part
of France or Of guarantee of such neutrality. 10
plunge into war on hasty readin;- Of rather
vague telegram was reckless; to plunge into il
when Austria was on the point of compromise was
wanton and wicked. Germany clearly desired
war AS Sir Iaurice de Eunsen says the danger
point Of Europe shifted from Vienna to Berlin two
or threu days before the great conflict began. Ger
many bungled and miscaculated, msread tele-
grams and misjudged European sentiment. even so
far as to conceive Of Engand's using her arms to
prevent France from aiding RuSsia She was
blinded by her own mllitartsm.