Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-10

no answer; England had remained
silent to, Russia; France. thru her
prime minister, on tho evening OF
July 81, had merely declared to the
German ambassador that Russia had
not modified. and had, on her part,
ordered mobilization some hours be-
fore Germany did. ?.
The chancellor continued: AS to
the so-called defensive character OF.
the Russian general mobilization |
Wish TO state here explicitly, that AT
the outbreak of the war in 1914, there
was still in force a general instruction
of the Russian government, ISSUED In
the year 1912, which contained, YER
batim, tho following paragraph: From
the highest place IL is ordered that a
proclamation of. war aagnst Ger
many. Against Germany, gentlemen,
against Germany.'
"Russia," Or. Won Bothmann- Holl-
veg continued. would never have de-
cided upon this fateful step If she
had not been encouraged To do so
from The Thames by actions as well as
by failures TO take action"
Tho chancellor thCrcupon described
the general situation at that time. on
july 80, he said. the German am
bassador at Vienna had been instruct
ed to request Austria Hungary most
with Russia and TO add that Germany
did not want 10 be drawn into world
war in consequence of disregard of
her advice. Austria Hungary had
agreed 20 Germany's suggestion.
Compare with this,"/ said the
chancellor, the steps which Lord
Grey took: On July q. 1914. the
Russian Ambassador at London told
him that in German and Austro- Hun
"A
that England would stand aside. Lord
Grey replied: This impression ought
to be dispellod by the orders we have
given { the first fleet ON July 29
he Immediately informed the French
ambassador of the confidential warn
inc which had beer given TO our am
bnssador at London 10 the effect that
Germany must be prepared for quick
decisions on the part of England,
which meant England's participation
In the war. II is possible that Lord
Grey supposed that such a disclosure
made to the French ambassador would,
serve the cause of peace? Was not
the French representative Obliged To
consider this disclosure as Il prOinirc
of armed help in case of war? Must
not France have been encouraged by
this to give to Russia the promise of
unconditional fellowship in war which
days? And must not Russla have been
strengthened 10 the utmost in her in
tcntipns to wage war 10y this certainty
OF a British and French ailianceP The
Russian answer to the~mornlng con-
versatiCn of Lord Grey. indeed, came
as quickly as expected On the even
ing Of the same day, July 30. NJ. Saz-
onoff instructed the Russian ambassa-
dor ct Paris to express to the French |
~
declaration, given him by the French !
Ambassador. according to which /
Russia could count completely upon
the assistance Of her ally. France"
The situation, by which Russia was
faced on the night of july 80. was then
described by DR.. Won Bethmann- HSll- T.
veg as follows: Austria Hungary was
yielding under German influence, a
fact which cleared the road toward
peace. At the same time Lord Grey's
disclosure to NJ. Paul Cambon assured 4
Russia of the armed assistance of /
England and France which alone gave F..
Russia the possibility of making war. /
She accordingly decided on mobilZa- I
tion and war, Who, the chancellor /
asked. was guilty of this fateful 1e- .
csion? Lord Grey, he said, had mot
mentioned any of these facts. but had
directed the attention OF his audience .
'Th Hague arbitration tribunal of
fcred by the car" the chancellor pro-
cceded, mo doubt sounds very serious
but the offer was made when the Rus
sian troops were already set To move
against us. AS TO Lord Grey's own
suggestion of a conference he himself
substituted for 1t our mediation. rs |
have repeatedly explained in the
reichstag. AS regards the Belgian
ssN ~ h.sI. HN.
soldier had set foot on Belgian soil,
Lord Grey already had told the
French ambassador, as related IN the
lattor,s report: If the German fleet
would come into the channel or thru
the North Sea with the intention of
attacking the French coast or the
French navy and of harrasslng the .
French merchant marine t"harassing."
The British navy would
act in order TO protect the French
navy in such a way that from that
moment England and Germany would
he in a state of war; Can the same.
man who proclaimed that the sailing
of our navy would be a casus belli.
can that very same man still asseve-
rate sincerely that it was only the vio-
la,ion of the Belgian neutrality that
forced England into war against her
will?"
Lord Grey's statement that Germany
had asked England to 'condone the
of the Belgian neutrality by
saying:
81 must ask Lord Grey to examine
the facts in his own Blue Book and in
his records"
In order to localiZe the war, the
chancellor said, he had on July 20
assured the British ambassador at
Berlin that in ease of EnglaDd's neu-
Irality, Germany would guarantee
Frances territorial integrity. On Aug
lst | Price Lichnowsky had asked
Lord Grey whether England would
promise to stay neutral in case Ger
many undertook to respect the Bel
gidn neutrality. The ambassador had
further said that II England would
stay neutral the integrity not only of
Frances territory, but also OF the
French colonies, could be guaranteed.
md that Germany was ready to alb.
stain from attacking France II Eng
land would guarantee Frances neu- :
trality b.
At the last moment the chancellor
said, he had given the promise that
rs long as England would stay neu-
raj the German navy would not at
ack the French north coast and reci-
Drocity provided, would commit no
,.sst L.. a.