empt to preserve peace was on August 1st,
when he telegraphed to Sir E. Goschen:

I still believe that it might be possible to secure peace if
only a little respite in time can be gained before any great
power begins war.

The Russian Government has communicated to me the readiness
of Austria to discuss with Russia and the readiness of
Austria to accept a basis of mediation which is not open to
the objections raised in regard to the formula which Russia
originally suggested.

Things ought not to be hopeless so long as Austria and
Russia are ready to converse, and I hope that the German
Government may be able to make use of the Russian
communications referred to above in order to avoid tension.
His Majesty's Government are carefully abstaining from any
act which may precipitate matters.[81]

[Footnote 81: English _White Paper_, No. 131.]

At that time the twelve-hour ultimatum to Russia had already expired,
but the British Ambassador saw the German Secretary of State on August
1st, and, after submitting to him the substance of Sir Edward Grey's
telegram last quoted,

spent a long time arguing with him that the chief dispute
was between Austria and Russia, and that Germany was only
drawn in as Austria's ally. _If, therefore, Austria and
Russia were, as was evident, ready to discuss matters and
Germany did not desire war on her own account, it seemed to
me only logical that Germany should hold her hand and
continue to work for a peaceful settlement._ Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs said that Austria's readiness to
discuss was the result of German influence at Vienna, and,
had not Russia mobilized against Germany, all would have
been well. But Russia, by abstaining from answering
Germany's demand that she should demobilize, had caused
Germany to mobilize also. Russia had said that her
mobilization did not necessarily imply war, and that she
could perfectly well remain mobilized for months without
making war. _This was not the case with Germany. She had the
speed and Russia had the numbers, and the safety of the
German Empire forbade that Germany should allow Russia time
to bring up masses of troops from all parts of her wide
dominions _. The situation now was that, though the
Imperial Government had allowed her several hours beyond the