rnment a serious warning
concerning its mobilization.

On my expressing the earnest hope that Russia would not precipitate
war by mobilizing until you had had time to use your influence in
favor of peace his Excellency assured me that Russia had no
aggressive intentions and she would take no action until it was
forced on her. Austria's action was in reality directed against
Russia. She aimed at overthrowing the present status quo in the
Balkans and establishing her own hegemony there. He did not believe
that Germany really wanted war, but her attitude was decided by
ours. If we took our stand firmly with France and Russia there
would be no war. If we failed them now rivers of blood would flow
and we would in the end be dragged into war....

I said all I could to impress prudence on the Minister for Foreign
Affairs and warned him that if Russia mobilized Germany would not
be content with mere mobilization or give Russia time to carry out
hers, but would probably declare war at once! His Excellency
replied that Russia could not allow Austria to crush Servia and
become the predominant power in the Balkans, and, if she feels
secure of the support of France, she will face all the risks of
war. He assured me once more that he did not wish to precipitate a
conflict, but that unless Germany could restrain Austria I could
regard the situation as desperate.--(British "White Paper" No. 17.)

A more convincing contradiction of the claim that Germany fell upon
unexpectant Russia can hardly be imagined. Sazonof's conversation with
the British Ambassador shows that Russia had decided from the beginning
to bring about the war, unless Austria would subject itself to Russia's
dictation.

Now, Russia was not alone concerned about Servia, but from its viewpoint
Austria-Hungary must not maintain the preponderant position in the
Balkans.

Sure of French help, Russia was determined to work against this. The
reports of the British representative do not suggest with a word that
Germany was responsible for the war; on the contrary, Sir Buchanan
again, on his own account, warned the Russian Government to keep aloof
from military measures, in his conversation with M. Sazonof on July 27,
although the "White Paper" does not show that he had received any
instructions by Sir Edward Grey.

His Excellency must not, if our efforts were to