New-York tribune., 1914-08-04
GERMANY PUTS
BLAME ON RUSSIA
Issues White Book De-
Tending Course in De-
claring War on Gar.
PUBLISHES LETTERS
TO ST. PETERSBURG
Kaiser's Message Warned Gar
He Must Take Counter Meas
ures Of Defence.

Berlin. Aug. 3. The German govern
ment has issued White Book. re-
counting the events leading up to the
war and giving the texts OF the tele-
grams exchanged between the German
and Russian Empcrors. The govern
ment insists that it worked shoulder
20 shoulder with Great Britain IN
medatory action, and supported every
proposal i'm Vienna from which 1t
thought a peaceful solution could be
hoped.
On July 80 the German government
forwarded TO Vienna the British pro-
posal. which laid down that Austria,
after the invasion of Servia, which had
then taken place, ought to dictate her
conditions there. Germany assumed
that Russia would accept this basis.
but while negotiations were preceding
news came OF Russian mobilization
measures on the assembly Of Russian
troops on the Prussian frontier.
While it was denied to the German
representatives at 81. Petersburg that
such measures were being taken. and
even before the Austrian answer to the
last British-Gcrman mediation pro-
posal could reach Berlin, Russia or
Gered q general mobilization.
The German Emperor in a telegram
called attention 10 the menacing char
qcter of the Russian mobilization and
the continuance OF his own activity
in the direction Of mediation.
On July 81 the Russian Emperor sent
the following telegram to the German
Emperor:
81 thank thee from my heart for thy
mediation, which leaves CLEAN OF
hope that even now all may end peace
fully. II is technically impossible TO
discontinue our military operation.
which has been rendered necessary by
Austrian mobilization. We are far from
wishing for war, and so long as nego-
tiations with Austria regarding Servia
continue my troops will not undertake
any provocative action.
81 give thee my word upon it and |
trust with my strength in Gods grace
and hope for the success of thy media
tion at Vienna and for our countries
and the peace OF Europe.
"Thy devoted
NICHOLAS"
To this the German Emperor re-
piled:
ain answer to thy appeal to my
friendship and thy prayer for my
1
between the Austro- Hungarian govern
ment and thine. While this action was
in progress thy troops were modified
against my ally, Austria-H Hungary, in
consequence of which, as | have al
ready informed thee, my mediation was
rendered nearly illusory. Nevertheless
il continued. But now | am in posses
sion of trustworthy advices concern
ing the serious war preparations on
my eastern frontier, as we'll.
"My responsibility for the safety of
my empire compels me to counter
measures of defence. In my endeavors
fer the maintenance of the peace of
the world have gone to the extreme
limit of the possible. 1t is not that
shall bear the responsibility for the
peril which now threatens the civilized
world. lay it to thy hand to avert it,
even at this moment.
"No one menaces the honor and
might of Russia, which well could have
waited upon the result of my media
tion. The friendship for thee and thy
empire bequeathed to me by my grand
father on his deathbed has always been
sacred to me, and have remained true
to Russia when it was in grave dis
tress, especially in your last war. The
peace of Europe can yet be conserved
by thee il Russia decides to discon-
tinue her military measures, which
threaten Germany and Austria-Hun-
gary"
Even before this telegram reached
its destination, the White Book says
the mobilization of all the Russian
forces, which had been ordered on the
forenoon of the same day and were
openly directed against Germany, wera
in full progress. When advices re-
garding this mobilization reached Ber.
lin the German Ambassador at ST. Pc
tersburg, the afternoon of July 81, was
ordered to declare TO Russia that Ger
many as a counter measure had de-
clared state Of war, which was to be
followed by mobilization should Russia
rot suspend her military measures in
side of twelve hours.
At the same time the German Am
bassador in Paris was directed to OBJ
tain a declaration from the French
government within eighteen hours
whether France would remain neutral
in a war between Russia and Germany
The White Book ends with q state
ment that Russia's mobilization showed
clearly that Russia desired war.