hat absolute proof was in possession of the
Russian Government that Germany was making military and naval
preparations against Russia, more particularly in the direction of
the Gulf of Finland,--(British "White Paper" No. 97.)

Proofs Lacking.

On the other hand, Buchanan's telegram of July 31 (British "White
Paper" No. 113) states:

Russia has also reason to believe that Germany is making active
military preparations, and she cannot afford to let her get a
start.--(British "White Paper" No. 113.)

So, from one day to the next the "absolute proof" changed to a reason
for the assumption. In reality, both were assertions that lack all
proof.

The finishing part of a telegram sent by the British Ambassador in
Berlin to Sir Edward Grey on July 31 deserves special mention:

He [the German Secretary of State] again assured me that both the
Emperor William, at the request of the Emperor of Russia and the
German Foreign Office, had even up till last night been urging
Austria to show willingness to continue discussion--and telephonic
communications from Vienna had been of a promising nature--but
Russia's mobilization had spoiled everything.--(British "White
Paper" No. 121.)

Therefore, the German Chancellor, in his memorandum placed before the
Reichstag, stated with full justification:

The Russian Government has smashed the laborious attempts at
mediation on the part of the European State Chancelleries, on the
eve of success, by the mobilization, endangering the safety of the
empire. The measures for a mobilization, about whose seriousness
the Russian Government was fully acquainted from the beginning, in
connection with their constant denial, show clearly that Russia
wanted war.

To this is to be added that the English Government also was made
fully cognizant of the intentions of the Russian mobilization, by a
witness that could not be suspected, namely, its own representative
in St. Petersburg, and therefore must bear full responsibility.

* * * * *

II.

GREY'S OMISSIONS AND ERRORS.

We have seen from the "Blue Book" that the Secretary of State in London
was informed at the very latest on July 24 by his Ambassador in St.
Petersburg of the plan of the Russian mobilization and consequently of
the tremendous seriousness of the European situation. Yet ei