themselves of the well-groundedness of certain of
the Austrian demands _they would find themselves in a
position to send to the Servian Government consequential
advice_. A refusal to extend the terms of the ultimatum
would deprive of all value the step taken by the
Austro-Hungarian Government in regard to the Powers and
would be in contradiction with the very bases of
international relations.[16]

[Footnote 16: Russian _Orange Paper_, No. 4.]

Could any court question the justice of this contention? The peace of
the world was at stake. Time only was asked to see what could be done
to preserve that peace and satisfy Austria's grievances to the
uttermost.

Germany had only to intimate to Austria that "a decent respect to the
opinions of mankind," as well as common courtesy to great and friendly
nations, required that sufficient time be given not only to Servia,
but to the other nations, to concert for the common good, especially
as the period was one of mid-summer dullness, and many of the leading
rulers and statesmen were absent from their respective capitals.

_If Germany made any communication to Austria in the interests of
peace the text has yet to be disclosed to the world._ A word from
Berlin to Vienna would have given the additional time which, with
sincerely pacific intentions, might have resulted in the preservation
of peace. Germany, so far as the record discloses, never spoke that
word.

England had already anticipated the request of Russia that a
reasonable time should be given to all interested parties. When the
Austrian Minister in London handed the ultimatum to Sir Edward Grey on
July the 24th, the following conversation took place, which speaks for
itself:

In the ensuing conversation with his Excellency I (Sir
Edward Grey) remarked that it seemed to me a matter for
great regret that a time limit, and such a short one at
that, had been insisted upon at this stage of the
proceedings. The murder of the Archduke and some of the
circumstances respecting Servia quoted in the note aroused
sympathy with Austria, as was but natural, _but at the same
time I had never before seen one State address to another
independent State a document of so formidable a character_.
Count Mensdorff replied that the present situation might
never have arisen if Servia had held out a hand after the
murder of the Archduke. Servia h