Berlin Treaty. But he was
outwitted. Would that he had always been! After much argle-bargle
Europe decided to accept the fait accompli in Bosnia, and not to
reassemble the signatory Powers. Serbia did not receive the corridor
she demanded through the Sanjak, and signed an agreement accepting
the changed state of Bosnia. Prince Nikola, in consideration of his
lost and buried ancestors, obtained certain concessions in the
status of Antivari. Russia, as war was impossible for her, did all
she could to maintain peace, even undertaking a large share of the
pecuniary compensation demanded of Bulgaria by the Turks. To Serbia
she counselled moderation, but, as we have learnt from recently
published documents, pledged herself' to support Serbia later on. On
March 6, 1909, the Serb representative in Petersburg informed
Belgrade: "Chamjakow informed me very confidentially that . . . in
the audience which took place on Monday the Tsar said that the
situation was terrible, for Russia was unprepared for war, and the
defeat of Russia would be the ruin of Slavdom . . . In answer to the
question what attitude Russia would assume in case Austria should
attack Serbia, the President of the Duma said: We did something no
other State has done up till now. We proclaimed to the Whole world
that we are not in a position to make war, but we shall consider any
attempt to coerce Serbia as the beginning of a European
conflagration, in which we cannot at present join. But it will flame
up in the future when we are in a position to have our way."
(Telegram xvi, Bogitchevitch). Russia thus very clearly told Serbia
so early as 1909 that so soon as Russia was ready, Serbia had but to
provoke Austria to retaliation and the European war, from which
Russia hoped to obtain so much, would at once blaze up. "You press
the button, and we'll do the rest."

As one result of the Bosnian crisis, Izvolsky lost his popularity.
In 1910 he was retired from the post of Minister for Foreign
Affairs, which he had held since 1906, and went to Paris as Russian
ambassador, where he toiled unremittingly at inciting France to
co-operate in his schemes. Already in October 1908 he had thus
instructed M. Vesnitch, Serb Minister in Paris: "Russia has hitherto
supported Serbia, and will continue to support her, however and
wherever she can. You must come to an understanding soon with
Montenegro. . . . Further, you must come to an understanding with,
Bulgaria, and in this we shal