tention? The peace of
the world was at stake. Time only was asked to see what could be done to
preserve that peace and satisfy Austria's grievances to the uttermost
farthing.

Concurrently with Sazonof's plea for a little time to preserve the peace
of the world, Sir Edward Grey had seen the German Ambassador on July 24
and had suggested to him that the only method of preventing the
catastrophe was

"that the four powers, Germany, France, Italy, and ourselves,
(England,) should work together simultaneously at Vienna and
St. Petersburg."

[English "White Paper," No. 11.]

Germany had only to intimate to Austria that "a decent respect to the
opinions of mankind," as well as common courtesy to great and friendly
nations, required that sufficient time be given not only to Servia, but
to the other nations, to concert for the common good, especially as the
period was one of Summer dullness and many of the leading rulers and
statesmen were absent from their respective capitals.

Under these circumstances was it not natural that Russia should announce
on July 24

"that any action taken by Austria to humiliate Servia would
not leave Russia indifferent,"

and that on the same day the Russian Charge d'Affaires at Vienna
suggested to the Austrian Foreign Office

"that the Austrian note was drawn up in a form rendering it
impossible of acceptance as it stood, and that it was both
unusual and peremptory in its terms"?

To which the only reply of the Austrian Foreign Minister was that their
representative in Servia

"was under instructions to leave Belgrade unless Austrian
demands were accepted in their integrity by 4 P.M. tomorrow."

[English "White Paper," No. 7.]

Austria's only concession then or subsequently to the cause of peace was
the assurance that Austria would not _after its conquest_ of Servia
demand any territory.

The action of Germany on this day, July 24, is most significant. Its
Ambassador in England communicated a note to Sir Edward Grey in which it
justified Austro-Hungarian grievances and ultimatum by saying that

"under these circumstances the course of procedure and demands
of the Austro-Hungarian Government can only be regarded as
equitable and moderate."

The note added:

"The Imperial Government [Germany] want to emphasize their
opinion that in the present case there is only question of a
matter to be settled