The Washington herald., 1914-08-16
MANIFESTO WAS
THE LAST STRAW
1t Was Francis Joseph S Proc
lamation that Broke the
Peace of Europe.
ARRANGEMENT OF SERVIA
little Kingdom Indicted for Insrati-
tude. Treachery. and Murder in
Statement Issued to People.

Vienna, Aug. 15.-The war that now
bids fair to devastate and impoverish
all Europe was directly, though not pri-
marily, caused by Austria-Hungary's
declaration of war against Servia- sla-
Slavs of SerRia and Germany took her
place beside Austria. This brought about
a clash of the Triple Alliance and the
Triple Entente and France and Eng
land were drawn in.
The real last straw" that broke the
camel's back Of the peace of Europe. was
the manifesto OF the aged Emperor Fran
els Joseph. Of Austria-Hungary. For the
first time, this edict is herewith given in
full. as the ruler of the dual monarchy
wrote it:
Dear Count Stuergkh: 1 have re-
solved to instruct the ministers of my
household and foreign affairs to notify
the royal Servian government of the be-
ginning of a state Of war between the
monarchy and Servie- In this fatefuI
hour I feel the need of turning to my
beloved peoples. I command you, there
fore, to publish the enclosed manifesto.
MANIFESTO.
TO nay peoples: It was my fervent
wish to consecrate the years, which
by the grace OF God still remain to me,
to the work OF peace and to protect nv
peoples from the heavy sacrifices and
burdens Of war. Providence, in its wis
dom, has otherwise decrecd. The in
trigues of a malevolent opponent compel
me, in the defense of the honor Of nv
monarchy, for the protection Of its dig
nifty, and its position as a power for the
security Of its possessions, to grasp the
swords after long years Of peace. With
a quickly forgetful ingratitude, the king
dom OF Servia, which from the begin.
ming Of its independence as a state until
quite recently, had been supported and
assisted by my ancestors, has for wears
trodden the path Of open hostility to
Austria Hungary.
When. after three decades of fruitful
work for peace in Bosnia and HezApovin.
l EXTENDED my sovereign rights to those
lands. my decree called forth in the
kingdom OF Servia, whose rights were in
nowise injured, outbreaks Of unrestrain
ed passion and the bitterest hate. Nv
government at that time employed IN.
handsome privileges OF the stronger and
with extreme consideration and leniency
only requested Servia to reduce her army
to a peace footing and to promise that.
for the future, she would tread that
path Of peace and friendship. Guided bv
the same spirit Of moderation, my gov
ernment. when Servia, two years aRo
was embroiled in a struggle with the
Turkish Empire. restricted its action TO
the defense Of the most serious and vital
interests Of the monarchy II was to
this attitude that Servia primarily owed
the attainment Of the objects OF that war.
Hope UnfuInIIcd.
The hope that the Servian kingdom
would appreciate the patience and love
Of peace Of my government and would
keep its word has not been, fulfilled The
flame Of its hatred for myself and my
house has blazed always higher; the de-
sign to tear from US by force fnsepera-
BILE portions Of Austria-Hungary has been
made manifest with less and less dis
guise. A criminal propaganda has ex-
tended over the frontier with the object
Of destroying the foundations of state
order in the southeastern part of the
monarchy, Of making the people, to
whom /, in NY paternaI affection. ex-
tend my full confidence waver in their
loyalty to the ruling house and to the
Fatherland: Of leading astray its grow
ing youth and inciting it to mischievous
deeds Of madness and high treason. A
series of murderous attacks, an organ-
lied, carefully prepared. and well-carried-
out conspiracy, whose fruitful success
wounded me and my loyal peoples to the
heart. form a visible bloody track of
those secret Vaccinations which were
operated and directed in Servia
"A halt must be called to these in
tolerable proceedings, and an end must
put to the incessant provocations of
ryia. The honor and dignity of my
onarchy must be preserved unimpaired,
q its political, economic, and military