Imperial Valley press., 1919-05-20

archy would improve in the course
of the next few wears. Won Hoetzen-
dorf spoke of Hungarian opposition
to huge armament credits and the
speed with which other nations were
aiming. He declared that he would
be guilty of lying if he said the
chances of the monarchy later on
would be mere auspicious. On the
contrary, he believed they were bound
to grow worse in the face of the prev
ateut disinclination to grant war cred
its and the growing natiOnahstic
Propaganda. His advice represented
the frank jud9ment OF a military eX-
pert given so'ely in reply to the min
ister'S demand. Count Won Berchtold
sought no further information and
the conference disbanded.
"tor Il decisive conference on the
ultimatum the ministers were sum
mOned three days later to Count Won
Retyhtold's residence. Emperor Fran
ciS Joseph was net present, but Count
Tisza, the Hungarian premier; Count
Won Stuergh, the Austrian premier;
Marshal Won Hoatzendorf. Minister of
War Korbatin and one naval expert
were present Count Won Berchtold
again conducted the deliberation. Two
ministerial official were called in to
assist in the technicalities of draft
ing the note. Won Berchtold read the
ultimatum. Nobody objected. Count
Tisza alone wavered for a moment.
The complications which might
threaten to affect the national prob
lens Of Hungary made him appear i'll
at ease, but he too finally gave his
consent.
"The note contained seventies. It
! was plain to everyone that the mon
archy would insist its representatives
! be permitted to attend the Belgrade
| investigation (of the Sarajevo muir
deT) because suspicion was verv pro-
ncunced that not only Premier Pach-
itch, but the royal house of Serbia,
was implicated in the assassination.
"The the note should receive dras-
tie formulation was to be expected
| in view OF the prevailing attitude that
the monarchy thus was broadly chal-
lenged and could not do otherwise
than demand complete satisfaction
and a guarantee that Serbian machin-
atjons sheuld stop for good.
''The conference then proceeded to
give the ultimatum its final textual
formulation. The diplomats present
discussed this phase thoroughly be-
fore two experts rendered the note
into the French language. The sol
diers present had no part in the de-
cisicn. The final official version was
occe more read aloud and the con-
ference promptly adjourned"
Nowak describes the scene in the
Schoenbrunn Imperial palace short
~ after the conference as follows:
THE old emperor never for mo-
ment lost self-control. He now was
fully aware that the monarchy had
been undetermined and that its fate
was in the balance. He asked Won
HoetZendoIf concerning the state of
mobilization and whether everything
was in order. The chief of staff re-
assured the aged monarch. Without
outward sign of emotion, Francis Jo-
seDh, in the presence of the foreign
minister, signed the declaration of
war"
According to Nowak. he believes
that the men in the Ballhausplatz ac-
.ually expected the Belgrade govern
ment would succumb to the Austro-
Hungarian bluff or that, it resisted,
the issue would be decided by swift
military campaign which would be
carried out with such speed as to ac-
complish localization of the war and
prevent other European powers from
intervening