ither to agree to accept the Servian answer as sufficient or
to look upon it as a basis for further conversations";

but the Austro-Hungarian Government--playing the role of the wicked
partner of the combination--"in full appreciation of our mediatory
activity," (so says the German "White Paper" with sardonic humor,)
replied to this proposition that, coming as it did after the opening of
hostilities, "_it was too late_."

Does any reasonable man question for a moment that, if Germany had done
something more than merely "transmit" these wise and pacific
suggestions, Austria would have complied with the suggestions of its
powerful ally or that Austria would have suspended its military
operations if Germany had given any intimation of such a wish?

On the following day, July 28, the door was further closed on any
possibility of compromise when the Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs

"said, quietly but firmly, _that no discussion could be
accepted on the basis of the Servian note_; that war would be
declared today, and that the well-known pacific character of
the Emperor, as well as, he might add, his own, might be
accepted as a guarantee that the war was both just and
inevitable; that this was a matter that must be settled
directly between the two parties immediately concerned."

To this arrogant and unreasonable contention that Europe must accept the
guarantee of the Austrian Foreign Minister as to the righteousness of
Austria's quarrel the British Ambassador suggested "the larger aspect of
the question," namely, the peace of Europe, and to this "larger aspect,"
which should have given any reasonable official some ground for pause,
the Austrian Foreign Minister replied that he

"had it also in mind, but thought that Russia ought not to
oppose operations like those impending, which did not aim at
territorial aggrandizement, and which could no longer be
postponed."

[English "White Paper," No. 62.]

The private conversations between Russia and Austria having thus failed,
Russia returned to the proposition of a European conference to preserve
its peace. Its Ambassador in Vienna on July 28 had a conference with
Berchtold and pointed to the dangers to the peace of Europe and the
desirability of good relations between Austria-Hungary and Russia.

To this Count Berchtold replied that he understood perfectly well the
seriousness of the situation and the adva