rbian Government on
March 18-31, 1909."

CHAPTER XXII

DIPLOMATIC EXCHANGES

This reply from Serbia was not deemed satisfactory by Austria-Hungary
and relations with Serbia were immediately broken off. On the
following day, July 26, 1914, "diplomatic conversations," the object
of which was to smooth over the differences between Austria-Hungary
and Serbia, took place in Berlin, St. Petersburg and Vienna between
representatives of the three nations whose capitals these were.

Austria-Hungary sent to the various governments the following
"circular note" on July 27, 1914:

"The object of the Serbian note is to create the false impression
that the Serbian Government is prepared in great measure to comply
with our demands.

"As a matter of fact, however, Serbia's note is filled with the
spirit of dishonesty, which clearly lets it be seen that the Serbian
Government is not seriously determined to put an end to the culpable
tolerance it hitherto has extended to intrigues against the
Austro-Hungarian monarchy.

"The Serbian note contains such far-reaching reservations and
limitations not only regarding the general principles of our Action,
but also in regard to the individual claims we have put forward,
that the concessions actually made by Serbia become insignificant.

"In particular, our demand for the participation of the
Austro-Hungarian authorities in investigations to detect accomplices
in the conspiracy on Serbian territory has been rejected, while our
request that measures be taken against that section of the Serbian
press hostile to Austria-Hungary has been declined, and our wish
that the Serbian Government take the necessary measures to prevent
the dissolved Austrophobe associations continuing their activity
under another name and under another form has not even been
considered.

"Since the claims in the Austro-Hungarian note of July 23, regard
being had to the attitude hitherto adopted by Serbia, represent the
minimum of what is necessary for the establishment of permanent
peace with the southeastern monarchy, the Serbian answer must be
regarded as unsatisfactory.

"That the Serbian Government itself is conscious that its note is
not acceptable to us is proved by the circumstances that it proposes
at the end of the note to submit the dispute to arbitration--an
invitation which is thrown into its proper light by the fact that
three hours before handing in the note, a few minutes before the
expir