The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-08-18

son, given to Ambassador Gerard in
the emperor's own handwriting was
made public officially by the State de-
lartmnet today for the first time. 1t
follows:
Berlin. via Copenhagen, dated Au-
gust IA, 1914, received August Is,
7.30 p. M.
Secretary of State,
washington.
August IA, 3 p. m.
THE following was communicate
cd personally to me by the emperor
in writing:
Private and confidential.
For the President personally.
81. The Royal Highness Prince
Henry, was received by his majesty,
King George V, in London, who en-
powered him to transmit to me YER
bally that England would remain
neutral if war broke out on the con-
tinent involving Germany and
France, Austria and Russia. This
message was telegraphed to me by
my brother from London after his
conversation with his majesty the
King and repeated verbally on the
Goth of July.
2. My ambassador in London
transmitted a message from Sir Ed
ward Grey to Berlin saying that only
in case France was likely to be
crushed England would interfere.
/ 80. On the SOth my ambassador
in London reported that Sir Edward
Grey in the course Of a private (sic)
conversation told him that if the con-
flict remained localized between Rus
sia-not Servia-and Austria-Eng-
land would not move, but if we mix
cd in the fray she would take quick
decisions and grave manOeuvers: in
other words if 1 left my ally Austria
in the lurch to fight alone England
would not touch me.
! ~. This communication being
directly counter to the Kings mes
sage to me, 1 telegraphed to his mai
esty on the 29th or 3Oth, thanking
him for the kind message through nv
brother and begging him to use all
his power to keep France and Russia.
his allies, from making any warlike
preparations calculated to disturb my
work on mediation, stating that I was
IN constant communication with his
majesty the Car. In the evening the
Klng kindly answered that he had or
dered his government to use every
possible influence with his allies to
repudiate taking any provocative
measures. AT the same time his mai
esty asked me that 1 should TRANSMIT.
to Vienna the British proposal that
Austria was to take Belgrade and a
few other Servian towns and a strip
or country as mainmise (sic) to
make sure that the Servian promises
on paper should be fulfilled in real
ity.
This proposal was in the same
moment telegraphe to me from Wen
ma for London quite in conjunction
with the British proposals; besides I
had tclegraphed to his majesty the
car the same as an idea of mine
before 1 received the two communi-
cation from Vienna and London. AS
10th were Of the same opinion I i'm
mediately transmitted the kilograms
vice versa to Vienna and London. r
felt that 1 was able to tide the oues.
ton over and was happy at the
peaceful outlook.
"'5. While 1 was preparinp y no+o
to his majesty the Car the next
morning to inform him that Vienna
London and Berlin were agreed about
the treatment of affairs I received q
telephone message from his excel
lency the chancellor that in the night
before the Car had given the order
i4~o 'he WnOle or the Rus
sian army which was of course also
meant against Germany; whereas up
tiii then the Southern armies had
necn mobilized against Austria.
"6. In a telegram from London
my ambassador informed me he un-
oerstood the British government
would guarantee neutrality of France
ana wished to know whether Ger
many would refrain from attack. T
telegraphed to his majesty the Kine
personally that mobilization being al
ready carried out could not be stop
pea. but If his majesty would guar
ahtee with his armed forces the neu-
trality of France would refrain
from Alta ing her lenvo hor aIopo