heim,
who had just come back from a visit to Berlin. The German diplomat said
that he had been present at a conference where it had been decided that
the ultimatum to Servia was to be made of such a nature that it could
not be accepted, and that this would be the provocation of the war which
would probably ensue. Shortly afterward these statements were narrated
by Signor Garroni to Mr. Lewis Einstein, attache of the American Embassy
at Constantinople, who carefully noted them in his diary.

(4) On July 22, 1914, the British Ambassador in Berlin sent a despatch
to his Government which indicated for the first time clearly the
attitude which the German Government had decided to take. I therefore
quote it in full.

"Last night I met Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and the
forthcoming Austrian demarche at Belgrade was alluded to by his
Excellency in the conversation that ensued. His Excellency was evidently
of opinion that this step on Austria's part would have been made ere
this. He insisted that the question at issue was one for settlement
between Servia and Austria alone, and that there should be no
interference from outside in the discussions between those two
countries. He had therefore considered it inadvisable that the Austro-
Hungarian Government should be approached by the German Government on
the matter. He had, however, on several occasions, in conversation with
the Servian Minister, emphasized the extreme importance that
Austro-Servian relations should be put on a proper footing.

"Finally, his Excellency observed to me that for a long time past the
attitude adopted toward Servia by Austria had, in his opinion, been one
of great forbearance." (Off. Dip. Doc., p. 56.)

This shows that Germany knew what Austria was doing, approved her plan,
and had resolved that there "should be no interference from outside in
the discussion"--in other words, Germany would allow no other nation to
prevent Austria from doing what she liked to Servia. Could Germany have
taken this absolutely "committal" position if she had been ignorant of
what Austria intended to do?

(5) On July 23, 1914, the crushing Austrian ultimatum, having been
prepared in the dark, was sent to Servia and delivered in Belgrade at 6
P. M. On the same day, and almost certainly at an earlier hour, the
German Chancellor prepared a circular confidential telegram to the
Ambassadors at Paris, London, and Petrograd, instructing them to tell
the Governmen