following day Baron von Schoen made two visits at the French
Foreign Office and assured the acting Minister for Foreign Affairs
that

Germany _was on the side of France in the ardent desire for
the maintenance of peace_, and she earnestly hoped that
France would use her influence in a soothing manner in St.
Petersburg.

I replied to this suggestion that Russia was moderate, that
she had committed no act throwing doubt upon her moderation,
and that we were in agreement with her in seeking for a
peaceful solution of the struggle. It therefore appeared to
me that in counterpart Germany should act in Vienna, _where
the efficacy of her action was sure_, with a view to
avoiding military operations tending to the occupation of
Servia.

The Ambassador having pointed out to me that that was
irreconcilable with the position adopted by Germany, "that
the question only concerned Austria and Servia," I said to
him that mediation in Vienna and St. Petersburg might be
made by the four Powers who were less directly interested in
the matter.

Baron von Schoen then sheltered himself behind his lack of
instructions on this point, and I told him that in these
circumstances I did not feel able to act in St. Petersburg
alone.

Our conversation concluded with the renewed assurance by the
Ambassador as to the peaceful intentions of Germany, who, he
declared, was with France on this point.[55]

[Footnote 55: French _Yellow Book_, No. 56.]

The incident now followed, which suggested to the French Foreign
office a subtle attempt of Germany to compromise the relations of
France with Russia by imputing disloyalty to the former. On his second
visit a few hours later, Baron von Schoen desired the French Foreign
Office to give to the public a statement with reference to the
preceding interview, and suggested the following, which he dictated to
the French official:

"The German Ambassador and the Minister of Foreign Affairs
had a further interview in the course of the afternoon,
during which they examined, _in_ _the most friendly spirit
and with a feeling of pacific solidarity, the means which
might be employed for the maintenance of general peace_."

The Acting Political Director at once replied: "Then, in
your mind, everything is settled, and you give us the
assurance that