Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-10-16
BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO VIENNA MAKES STRIKING REPORT ON WA


II. Dumaine had received from Count
Perehtold the categorical declaration
that no Austrian troops were being
moved To Alsace. The next day this
statement was supplemented by fur
Their one. in writing, giving Count
Berchtold's assurance that not only.
had no Austrian troops been moved
actually 10 the French frontier, but
that none we're moving from Austria
in westerly direction into Germany
in such way that they might replace
German troops employed at the front.
These two statements were made by
Count Berchtold IN reply to precise
questions put TO him by NJ. Dumaine,
under instructions from his govern.
ment. The French ambassadors de-
parture was not attended by any hos
tile demonstration, but>his excellency
before leaying had been justly offend
ed by a harangne made by the chief
burgomaster of Vienna to the crowd
assembled before the steps of the town
hall, in which he assured the people
that Paris was in the throes of a
revolution, and that the president OF
the republic had been assassinated.
People Kept in Ignorance.
The British declaration of war on
Germany was made known in Vienna
/ by special editions of the newspapers
about midday on the 9Th Of August.
An abstract of your speeches in the
house of commons. and also of the
German chancellor's speech in the
reichstag of the 4th of April. appeared
the same day, as well as the text OF
the German ultimatum to Belgium.
Otherwise few details of the great
events of these days transpired. The
Neie Freie Presse was violently in.
sulting towards England The Freni-
denblatt was not offensive, but little
Tor nothing was said in the columns of
any Vienna paper to explain that the
violation of Belgian neutrality had left
his majesty's government no alterna.
Tive but to take part in the war
The declaration OF Italian neutral
lily was bitterly felt In Vienna, but
scarcely mentioned in the newspapers.
"0h the 9th of August / had the.
honor to receive your instruction of
the previous day preparing me for the
immediate outbreak of war with Ger
many, but adding that, Austria being
understood to be not yet at that date
! at war with Russia and France, you
did not desire me to ask for my pass.
port or to make any particular COM
munication to the Austro- Hungarian
government. You stated at the same
time that his majesty's government of
course expected Austria not to commit
any act of war against us without the
notice required by diplomatic usage
"On Thursday morning. the 18th OF
August, u had the honor to receive
your telegram Of the 18th, stating that
yoi had been compelled to inform
Count Mensdorff. at the request Of
the French government, that COM
plete rupture had occurred between
France and Austria, ON the ground
that Austria had sent troops to the
German frontier under conditions that
were direct menace to France. The
rupture having been brought about
with France in. this way, was to ask
for my passport, and your telegram
stated, in conclusion, that You had In
formed Count Mensdorff that state
OF war would exist between the two
countries from midnight Of the 18th
of August.
Count 1erehtoId Il Polite.
After seeing Mr.. Penfleld, the Uni
ted States ambassador, who accepted
Immediately In the most friendly spirit
my request that his excelleney would
take charge PROFESSIONALS of British In
terests in Austria Hungary during the
unfortunate interruption OF relations, +
proceeded, with Mr.. Thee Russell,
counsellor Of his majesty,s embassy
to the ballplatz Count Berchtold re.
ceived me at midday / delivered my
message, for which his excellency did
not seem to be unprepared, although
he told me that long telegram from
Count Mensdorff had just come in but
had not yet been brought to him. His
exce1lency received my communication
with the courtesy which never leaves
him. He deplored the unhappy COM