, as well as, he might add, his own,
might be accepted as a guarantee that the war was both just
and inevitable; that this was a matter that must be settled
directly between the two parties immediately concerned.

To this arrogant and unreasonable contention that Europe must accept
the guarantee of the Austrian Foreign Minister as to the righteousness
of Austria's quarrel, the British Ambassador suggested "the larger
aspect of the question," namely, the peace of Europe, and to this
"larger aspect," which should have given any reasonable official some
ground for pause, the Austrian Foreign Minister replied that he

had it also in mind, but thought that Russia ought not to
oppose operations like those impending, which did not aim at
territorial aggrandizement, and which could no longer be
postponed.[35]

[Footnote 35: English _White Paper_, No. 62.]

The private conversations between Russia and Austria having thus
failed, Russia returned to the proposition of a European conference to
preserve its peace. Its Ambassador in Vienna on July 28th had a
further conference with Berchtold and again earnestly pleaded for
peace on the basis of friendly relations not only between Austria and
Servia but between Austria and Russia. The conversation in the light
of present developments is so significant that it bears quotation _in
extenso_:

I pointed out to him in the most friendly terms how much it
was desirable to find a solution which, while consolidating
the good relations between Austria-Hungary and Russia,
should give to the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy serious
guarantees for its future relations with Servia.

_I called the attention of Count Berchtold to all the
dangers to the peace of Europe_ which would be brought about
by an armed conflict between Austria-Hungary and Servia.

Count Berchtold replied that he understood perfectly well
the seriousness of the situation and the advantages of a
frank explanation with the Cabinet of St. Petersburg. _He
told me that on the other hand the Austro-Hungarian
Government, which had only reluctantly decided upon the
energetic measures which it had taken against Servia, could
now neither withdraw nor enter upon any discussion of the
terms of the Austro-Hungarian note._

Count Berchtold added that the crisis had become so acute
and that public opinion had been e