at St. Petersburg,
so that I was not in a position to commit myself with regard to
his suggestion as to London, but I would communicate on the
subject with your excellency."

_Germany._ The German White Book states:

"As the time limit given to Russia had expired without the
receipt of a reply to our inquiry, the kaiser ordered the
mobilization of the entire German army and navy on August 1, at 5
p. m.

"The German Ambassador at St. Petersburg [Count Pourtales] was
instructed that, in the event of the Russian Government not
giving a satisfactory reply within the stipulated time he should
declare that we considered ourselves in a state of war after the
refusal of our demands. [He so declared at 5 p. m.] However,
before a confirmation of the execution of this order had been
received, that is to say, already in the afternoon of August 1,
Russian troops crossed our frontier and marched into German
territory.

"Thus Russia began the war against us.

"The French Prime Minister [M. Viviani] gave an equivocal and
unsatisfactory reply on August 1 at 1 p. m., which gave no clear
idea of the position of France, as he limited himself to the
explanation that France would do that which her interests
demanded. A few hours later, at 5 p. m., the mobilization of the
entire French army and navy was ordered.

"On the morning of the next day France opened hostilities."

Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg telegraphed to Ambassador Lichnowsky
at London:

"Germany is ready to agree to the English proposal in the event
of England guaranteeing with all her forces the unconditional
neutrality of France in the conflict between Germany and Russia.
Owing to the Russian challenge German mobilization occurred
to-day before the English proposals were received. In consequence
our advance to the French frontier cannot now be altered. We
guarantee, however, that the French frontier will not be crossed
by our troops until Monday, August 3, at 7 p. m., in case
England's assent is received by that time."

Lichnowsky answered that Sir Edward Grey, British Secretary for
Foreign Affairs, had asked him

"whether I thought I could declare that in the event of France
remaining neutral in a German-Russian war we would not attack the
French. I told him that I believed that I co