Denver labor bulletin., 1918-07-13
THE UNDERCURRENT OF GERMAN
DIPLOMACY IN THE PRESENT WAR
GIVEN BEFORE THE COLORADO PATRIOTIC LEAGUE
AND ORDER OF EASTERN STAR AND
SOUTH SIDE WAR CLUB.
By SENATOR EDWARD v. DUNKLEE.

humiliating promises of subservience
to Austrian wishes. Also, contrary to
all precedents, the answer was de-
manded to be signed and returned by
July 25, just two days after the send
ing. War was practically considered
declared, and diplomats of all nations
piled with everything possible, but
could not give up her rights as an in
dependent state, as demanded by al
lowing Austrian officials in her army.
Lost the Balance Wheel.
In passing, it may be noted that the
archduke who was slain was recog-
nized as the leader of a strong CEN
tralized monarchial regime. He was
the man needed to straighten out the
affairs in the Austrian government, as
he could control all factions. In fact,
his father, Francis Joseph, looked to
him for advice on all matters of i'm
portance, and he was, therefore, the
practical ruler of Austria. His death
| took away the balance wheel of the
government and made her the easy
tool for the Vaccinations of Germany.
Austria had been angered anyway
with Serbia by the treaty Bucharest,
in which her recent ally, Bulgaria,
|
| Roumania had gained considerable
territory. Russia had been friendly
to the little Serbian nation and her
| influence in the Balkan war was fast
decreasing the Austrian interests.
Serbia distinctly did not want war,
but could not give up her freedom,
| and Russia gave her assurances of
help. Russia, as well as France, Eng
land and Italy, protested against the
| two-day limit for the ultimatum of
Austria, and knew, when this was re-
fused, that the real thing sought was
revenge. Two minutes before the time
limit Serbia replied, and one-half hour
later the Austrian minister withdrew
from Serbia.
Declaration of War.
On July 2S the Austrian govern
ment formally declared war, on the
ground that the Serbian government
had not satisfactorily answered its I'LL
timatum. This, altho Serbia had of
fered to place the one or two ques-
tons of her fundamental liberty
which she could not give up-before
The Hague tribunal. All European
powers, except Germany, were i'm
pressed by her fairness and Austria's
unfairness.
Most valient efforts toward prevent
ing general confiagration were made
by the diplomats of England, France,
Russia and Italy, but Germany would
not accede, nor ask Austria to with
hold the impending struggle. Sir Ed
ward Gray, England's world peace
maker, made the most determined eff
forts. which are fully set out in a
pamphlet called "Why Britain is at
War" On page IL of this book Sir
Edward Gray saws:
I'VE had every nation with us ex-
,cept Germany, to withhold Austria,
and on the last day that we could
have prevented it ali, and we had
asked Germany to come in with US,
she sent her ultimatum to Russia"
This, on July 81. On August 1 the
king of England telegraphed the car
of Russia to assist, and the car re-
piled that he would be glad to, but
to use his language-"I would gladly
have accepted your proposals had not
the German ambassador this afternoon
presented note to my government
declaring war"
7 Where the Blame Belongs.
Austria would have desisted any
time that Germany asked her, but Ger
many did not ask it and did not want
it. The blame should be placed where
it belongs, upon the instigator-Ger-
many-the only nation which refused
to ask presentation of the Austrian
Serbian dispute to an European con-
gress. Right here comes the most in
famous attempt at treachery in the
war, and this just at the start of the
declarations of war. On July 20, 1914,
the German chancellor sent for Sir E.
Goschen, British ambassador, and re-
vealed to him Germany's plan to crush
France thru Belgium, and then he pro-
ceeded to bargain with England to
stay neutral on the following terms
First-That Germany make no ter
ritorial acquisitions in France.
Second-Engiand was to quietly
consent to the violation of Belgium's
neutrality without her knowledge.
Third-England and Germany would
then form treaties of alliance and d.
vision of power See p. IA, "Why Brit
ain is at War"
Surely, it is, not wrongly called a
war of principle against treachery
wnen at the outset Germany laid her
cards upon the table in this respect
To her people she gave the idea that
Russia's mobilization, after Austria
declaration of war, was directed
many's ultimatum to Russia to de-
mobilize, after Austria declared war,
gave Russia eighteen hours to answer.
When no answer came in this notably
unfair limit Of time, on August Ger
many declared war on Russia. On
August 3 the German ambassador in
Paris demanded his passports, on the
ground that France was in sympathy
with Russia and had committed acts
Of hostility against Germany, and
stating that the German empire must
consider itself in a state Of war with