(34519) No. 206.
Communicated by Russian Ambassador, July 28, 1914.
Telegramme de M. Sazonoff en date du 14/27 Juillet 1914. Repete a Paris et a Berlin.
Confidentiel..
L'Ambassadeur d'Angleterre est venu s'informer si nous jugeons utile que l'Angleterre prenne l'initiative de convoquer a Londres une conference des Representants de l'Angleterre, la France, l'Allemagne et l'Italie, pour etudier une issue a la situation actuelle.
J'ai repondu a l'Ambassadeur que j'ai entam‚ des pourparlers avec l'Ambassadeur d'Autriche-Hongrie, en conditions que j'espere favorables. Pourtant je n'ai pas encore recu de reponse a la proposition que j'ai faite d'une revision de la note entre les deux Cabinets.
Si des explications directes avec le Cabinet de Vienne se trouvaient irrealisables, je suis pret a accepter la proposition anglaise, ou toute autre de nature a resoudre favorablement le conflit.
Je voudrais pourtant ecarter des aujourd'hui un malentendu qui pourrait surgir de la reponse donnee par le Ministre de la Justice Francais a l'Ambassadeur d'Allemagne, concernant des conseils de moderation a donner au Cabinet Imperial.
Published, with translation, in BB No. 53.
Cf. No. 179.
[NOTE. . The document as printed in the Blue Book and here is a precise copy of the typewritten sheet left by Count Benckendorff at the Foreign Office. From the version published later from the archives at St. Petersburg it appears that the following concluding sentence has been omitted from the original as telegraphed to Count Benckendorff:
S'il s'agit d'une action moderatrice quelconque a St. Petersbourg, nous la declinons a l'avance, vu que des le debut nous avons pris une position a laquelle nous ne pouvons rien changer, car nous allons deja au-devant de toutes les exigences acceptables de l'Autriche.
A scrutiny of the document handed in by Count Benckendorff shows in fact that the bottom of the page has been cut off. The explanation seems to be that this telegram, which was originally addressed to the Russian Ambassador at Paris, consisted of two portions, which are clearly distinguished in the Russian original; the first three paragraphs referred to the proposals communicated to M. Sazonof by Sir George Buchanan at St. Petersburg; the last two paragraphs to a communication which had reached M. Sazonof from M. Isvolsky at Paris. It was then quite natural that Count Benckendorff should hand on the first portion to Sir Edward Grey, but not the second portion, which had nothing to do with the British Government. It seems that an error was made in the Russian Embassy in London; the two final paragraphs should have been deleted, but in fact only the last one was deleted. The last paragraph as it stands is obviously incomplete.
The version given in "The Falsifications of the Russian Orange Book" which is a translation from the German "Die Falschungen des russischen Orangebuches" is incorrect, for it is made to appear that the fourth paragraph reported part of the observations made by M. Sazonof to Sir George Buchanan; it is put in oblique narration and not paragraphed, for this there is no justification in the Russian original. The correct version is published in "Un Livre Noir," vol. II, pp. 279-280, but in this the last sentence from "concernant" to "Cabinet Imperial" is omitted .]
(34514) No. 207.
Communicated by Russian Ambassador, July 28, 1914.
Confidentiel. Le 15/28 Juillet 1914.
M. Sazonoff tel‚graphie qu'il a eu Dimanche un entretien prolong‚ avec le Comte Szapary.
En examinant la reponse de la Serbie aux(1) (avec lui les) 10 points formules par la note Autrichienne, M. Sazonoff a fait observer sous forme amicale que si meme la Serbie a pu s'y soumettre (s'y soumettait), malgre la redaction malheureuse de la note Autrichienne, quelques-unes des exigences Autrichiennes seront irrealisables.
Ainsi les points 1 et 2 exigent l'assentiment l‚gislatif de la Skoupchtina Serbe a la modification des lois sur la presse et le droit d'association, assentiment qui ne pourra guere etre obtenu.
Les points 4 et 5 ne manqueraient pas de provoquer des consequences des plus dangereuses, tels que des complots anarchiques contre les Membres de la Famille Royale et le President du Ministere, un resultat qui certainement n'entre pas dans les vues du Gouvernement Imperial et Royal.
Quant aux autres points, M. Sazonoff a dit a l'Ambassadeur qu'il lui semblait que moyennant certaines modifications dans les details un terrain d'accord pourrait etre trouve sans difficulte, pour peu que les accusations formulees soient basees sur des preuves suffisantes.
M. Sazonoff, a ajoute que dans l'interet de la paix, un interet que l'Ambassadeur d'Autriche venait de declarer aussi precieux pour l'Autriche-Hongrie que pour les autres Puissances, il serait urgent de mettre fin le plus tot possible a la tension actuelle.
Dans ce but M. Sazonoff a exprime le desir que le Comte Szapary soit muni des pouvoirs necessaires pour entrer avec lui dans un echange d'idees prive qui permettraient une revision de quelques pointes de la note Austro-Hongroise du 10/28 Juillet.
De cette facon, pense-t-il, il serait peut-etre possible de trouver une formule acceptable pour la Serbie et repondant en meme temps, pour l'essentiel, aux exigences du Gouvernement de Sa Majeste Imperiale et Royale.
English translation in R No. 25.
MINUTES.
I do not think that the method by which M. Sazonof has opened these "friendly negotiations" is likely to lead to any result. He tells the Austrian Ambassador in fact that part of what Servia has promised to do she is unable to do, and he asks that Austria should discuss with him a revision of some points in the Austrian note a note which has already been published and communicated. A. N. July 28, 1914.
On the very day when I was urging upon the German Government that the Servian note had conceded nearly all that Austria asked and that the Austrian Government should take a favourable view of it, M. Sazonof was telling the Austrian Ambassador that the Servian note was worth much less than its face value !! E .G.
(The above minutes are by direction of Secretary of State to be cancelled.)(2) A. N.
(1) NOTE. From a corrected copy which was communicated later by Count Benckendorff (N. 258), it appears that the words printed in italics were an incorrect translation and there should be substituted for them the words immediately following printed in brackets see also No. 208, Enclosure 2.]
(2) Cf. No. 208 min.
(34514) No. 208.
Russian Ambassador to Sir A. Nicolson.
Tuesday, July 28,
Chesham House, Chesham Place, S.W.
My dear Nicolson,
I send you herewith M. Sazonoff's last telegram received this morning.
I gather that when he had his conversation with Count Szapary, he had in hand only the Austrian Note not the Servian answer, at least not the text, which he received yesterday as the enclosed telegram shows.
I see further that there is a mistake in the translation of the conversation with Ct. Szapary which I gave you this morning,(1) the correct translation which I enclose separately is a further proof, that Mr. Sazonoff knew little of the Servian answer.
Yours truly,
BENCKENDORFF.
2 enclosures.
I will send you a new corrected copy of the telegram in question.(2)
(1) No. 207.
(2) See No. 258.
MINUTE. It is clear from this that M. Sazonof did not criticise the Servian reply but the Austrian note and the adverse comments made upon what M. Sazonof said must be cancelled.(l) E.G
E nclosures in No. 208.
(1.)
Chesham House, Chesham Place, S.W.
Telegramme de M. Sazonoff en date du 14/27 Juillet 1914.
Je viens de prendre connaissance de la reponse remise par le Gouvernement Serbe au Baron Giessl.
Cette reponse par sa moderation et la disposition exprimee par la Serbie de donner a l'Autriche la satisfaction la plus positive, depasse tout ce que a quoi je m'attendais.
Je ne puis concevoir en quoi peuvent consister les exigences ulterieures de l'Autriche- Hongrie, a moins qu'elle ne cherche qu'une pretexte pour une campagne contre la Serbie.
(2.)
Please read "si meme la Serbie s'y soumettait" instead of "si meme la Serbie a pu s'y
soumettre."
(1) No. 207 min.
(34514) No. 209.
Sir A. Nicolson to Sir Edward Grey.
53, Cadogan Gardens, S.W., July 28, 1914.
My dear Grey.
You will have seen from the later telegram(1) which Benckendorff sent me, and which
I forwarded to you, that unwittingly we have done Sazonof an injustice. It was not the
Servian reply which he was criticising with the Austrian Ambassador but the Austrian
note a very different thing and when he received the Servian reply he was much
pleased with it and said that it went farther in the way of concessions than he had
considered possible.
Yours sincerely,
A. NICOLSON.
(1) No. 208. See also No. 185.
(34515) No. 210.
Russian Ambassador to Sir A. Nicolson.
July 28th, evening.
Chesham House, Chesham Place, S.W.
My dear Nicolson,
1. I enclose a telegram which reached me very late to-night.
2. The more I think of it, the more I come to the conclusion that, when speaking to Count Szapary, M. Sazonoff knew very little or nothing of the Servian answer. He never quoted it at all. He does not say: Although Servia has accepted, but "even if Servia should accept." And when finally he received yesterday the Servian answer, he telegraphs quite differently. I don't know whether all this is of any real importance at that hour. At any rate it puts a different construction on the telegram which I gave you yesterday,(1) I am very sorry to say not correctly translated.
Yours sincerely,
BENCKENDORFF.
(1) No. 207. Cf. also Nos. 208/9.
Enclosure in No. 210.
Telegramme de M. Sazonoff en date du 15/28 Juillet 1914.
Confidentiel
Mes entretiens avec l'Ambassadeur d'Allemagne confirment mon impression que l'Allemagne est plutot favorable a l'intransigeance de l'Autriche.
Le Cabinet de Berlin, qui aurait pu arreter tout le developpement de la crise, parait n'exercer aucune action sur son alliee.
L'Ambassadeur trouve insuffisante la reponse de la Serbie.
Cette attitude allemande est tout particulierement alarmante.
Il me semble que mieux que toute autre Puissance l'Angleterre serait en mesure de tenter encore d'agir a Berlin pour engager le Gouvernement Allemand a l'action necessaire. C'est a Berlin qu'indubitablement se trouve la clef de la situation.
Published, with translation, in BB. No. 54.
(34317) No. 211.
Communication from French Embassy.
French Embassy, Londres.
Le Gouvernement de la R‚publique accepte la proposition de Sir Edward Grey(1) relative a une intervention de la Grande-Bretagne, de la France, de l'Allemagne et de l'Italie en vue d'eviter les operations militaires actives sur les frontieres autrichiennes, russes et serbes; il a autoris‚ M. P. Cambon a prendre part aux deliberations de la reunion a quatre qui doit se tenir a Londres.
L'Ambassadeur de France a Berlin a recu pour instructions, apres s'etre concert‚ avec l'Ambassadeur d'Angleterre a Berlin, d'appuyer le demarche de ce dernier dans la forme et la mesure qui seraient jugees opportunes.
M. Viviani est pret a envoyer aux Representants francais a Vienne, Petersbourg et Belgrade des instructions dans le sens suggere par le Gouvernement Britannique.
27 Juillet 1914.
Published, with translation, in BB No. 52.
(1) No. 140.
(34518) No. 212.
Communication by the Russian Ambassador.
July 28, 1914.
The Austrian Ambassador at Paris communicated yesterday (27th) to Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs by order of his Government that the reply of Servia is considered unsatisfactory, and that, in any case, Austria-Hungary would undertake energetic action the next day (28th) with a view of forcing Servia to give the required guarantees. On M. Bienvenu-Martin asking his Excellency what form this action would take, the latter replied that he had no indication, but that it could only mean either (1) an ultimatum or (2) a declaration of war or (3) the invasion of Servia.
Above communicated by Count Benckendorff. A. N.
It is a telegram sent by M. Isvolsky to St. Petersburg and repeated by him direct here. A. N.
This was communicated to Sir George Buchanan as a despatch dated July 29. Cf. F No. 75 and A II Nos. 62 and 70. M. Isvolsky's telegram to St. Petersburg is published in R No. 37 and R II.
[NOTE. In the text as published in the original Russian Orange book, the last sentence differs slightly from that given here, which is identical with that in II and with the account given by M. Bienvenu-Martin.]
(34428) No. 213.
Mr. Chilton to Sir Edward Grey.
The Hague, July 28, 1914.
D. 10:40 A.M.
Tel. (No. 14.)
R. 2:15 P.M.
Queen of the Netherlands returned hurriedly to The Hague yesterday and held two Cabinet Councils.
I learn that all leave has been stopped in the army and navy, and that officers and men on leave have been recalled. Preparations are being made for mobilisation at the earliest possible notice if necessary. Government have requisitioned all tugs at Amsterdam, Rotterdam and other ports in case of need. Movement of troops are being carried out all over country and night exercises taking place.
(34429) No. 214.
Consul-General Sinclair to Sir Edward Grey.
Brindisi, July 28, 1914.
D. 1:30 P.M.
Tel. (No. 6.)
R. 2:30 P.M.
Vice-Consul Watson returned from Montenegro reports mobilisation.
Telegraphic communication delayed.
Austrian warship and 3 torpedo-boat-destroyers off Antivari.
Montenegro prepared to evacuate ports.
(34431) No. 215.
Sir E. Goschen to Sir Edward Grey.
Berlin, July 28, 1914.
D. 2:3 P.M.
Tel. (No. 97.)
R. 2:45 P.M.
My telegram of yesterday.(1)
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs spoke yesterday in same sense to my French and Italian colleagues respecting your proposal. In talking over his reply this morning my two colleagues and I found that to all of us he had, while refusing proposed conference, said that nevertheless he desired to work with us for maintenance of general peace. We therefore deduced that if this wish on hi part is sincere it is only to form of your proposal that he objects. We therefore wondered whether it might be possible for you to put proposal in another form omitting word "conference," or perhaps even to propose to him that he himself should suggest lines on which he would find it possible to work with us.
(Repeated to Embassies and Nish.)
Published in BB No. 60 (paraphrased and part omitted).
Cf. No. 223 and F Nos. 73, 74.
(1) No. 185.
MINUTES. Sir E. Grey has telegraphed to-day to Berlin that he will suspend his suggestion if there is any chance of direct exchange of views between Vienna and St. Petersburg. G. R. C. July 28, 1914.
Apart from that however there is much sound sense in the suggestion that Germany should be asked, if as she says, she is so anxious to work for peace, what she proposes the Powers should do. E. A. C. July 28.
I am a little tired of these protestations and should like to see some practical action. If direct conversations are to take place between Vienna and St. Petersburg we had better not confuse the matter by making any fresh proposal. A. N.
(34433) No. 216.
Sir F. Bertie to Sir Edward Grey.
Paris, July 28, 1914
D. 1 P.M.
Tel. (No. 91.)
R. 2:50 P.M.
Lord Granville met Russian Ambassador at dinner last night. His Excellency declared to him his belief that war is inevitable and by fault of England; that if England had at once declared her solidarity with Russia and France, and her intention to fight if necessary, Germany and Austria would have hesitated, whereas, as it is, His Majesty's Government had encouraged Austria. M. Isvolsky would not listen to any excuses for Austria. He said that a promise by Austria to respect territorial integrity of Servia would be useless if Servia were reduced to state of vassalage, that Austria's object is to extend Germanic influence and power towards Constantinople, which Russia cannot possibly permit. He added that eventuality ought to be just as repugnant to England as to Russia. His Excellency declared that to allow Austria a free hand with Servia would be as deep a humiliation for Russia as that which he himself had had to accept in 1909; he had no choice then, as Russia was not in a position to fight, but things were very different now. His Excellency further explained that he had been much blamed in 1909 for accepting German proposal without consulting England and France, but he had done so deliberately in order that humiliation might fall on Russia alone and not on all the three Powers of the entente, which would have meant its collapse.
(Repeated to St. Petersburg, July 28, 6:30 P.M., No. 394.)
No. 217.
Sir E. Goschen to Sir Edward Grey.
Berlin, July 28, 1914.
D. 3:30 P.M.
Tel. (No. 98.)
R. 4 P.M.
Following from consular officer at Danzig:
"Four German torpedo-boats, 82 S, 83 S, 84 S, 86, left yesterday, 27th July, for sea."
(34231) No. 218.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir E. Goschen.
Foreign Office, July 28, 1914.
Tel. (No. 218.)
D. 4 P.M.
Your telegram No. 96 of 27th July :(1) Austria and Servia.
Your construction of proposed conference is quite right. It would not be an arbitration, but a private and informal discussion to ascertain what suggestion could be made for a settlement, but none would be put forward unless it was ascertained that it would be acceptable to Austria and Russia, with each of whom it would be easy for those conferring to keep in touch through their respective allies.
But I entirely agree that direct exchange of views between Austria and Russia is the most preferable method of all, and as long as there is a prospect of that taking place I would suspend every other suggestion.
I understand that Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs has proposed friendly exchange of views to Austrian Government, and if Austria accepts it will no doubt relieve the tension and make the situation less critical.
It is very satisfactory to hear from German Ambassador here that German Government have taken action at Vienna in the sense of the conversation recorded in my telegram No. 208 of yesterday to you.(2)
You should inform Minister for Foreign Affairs.
(Repeated to Paris No. 255, and St. Petersburg No. 391; also to Vienna 176/7, Rome 214/5, Nish No. 30/31: "For your own information only.")
Published in BB No. 67 (paraphrased and last sentence omitted).
(1) No. 185.
(2) No. 176.
(34231) No. 219.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir G. Buchanan.
Foreign Office, July 28, 1914.
Tel. (No. 392.)
D. 4 P.M.
Austria and Servia. My telegram No. 218 of to-day to Sir E. Goschen.(1)
You should inform Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, pointing out that the information about German mobilisation is very confidential.
(1) No. 218. See also No. 185.
(34231) No. 220.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir F. Bertie.
Foreign Office, July 28, 1914.
Tel. (No. 26.)
D. 4:5 P.M.
Austria and Servia. My telegram No. 218 of to-day to Sir E. Goschen.(1)
Your Excellency should inform French Minister for Foreign Affairs of first paragraph of Sir E. Goschen's telegram No. 96 of 27th July(2) and of my reply to it.(1)
(1) No. 218
(2) No. 185