s Sazonof made wild complaints on _July_ 24, 1914,
against Austria-Hungary. What he said most definitely was this:

_That Russia could not possibly permit the Servian-Austrian
dispute to be confined to the parties concerned._

This was the keynote of the Russian situation and of the Russian
intention. Russia wanted, of course, to expand its realm as far
westward as possible, and it wanted to take advantage of the opportunity
offered by the necessary consequences of the dreadful insult and cruelty
practiced by Servia on Austria, not only to prevent the punishment of
Servia, but also to proceed against Germany, for, as Paper 4 says:
"Russia could not possibly permit the Servian-Austrian dispute to be
_confined_ to the parties concerned."

Who, then, was to blame for not allowing the war to be confined, for not
permitting Austria to punish the murderers of her King, but utilizing
this opportunity for the purpose of bringing about the great war which
Russia and France had carefully prepared long ago? The great war which
should involve all the civilized nations in a conflict, and threaten to
extinguish Austria and to carry barbarism into the heart of Europe! She
_did_ not permit the Servian-Austrian dispute to be confined to the
parties concerned.

Again, in Paper 56, (English "White Book,") we find the English
Ambassador to Austria writing to Sir Edward Grey on July 27, 1914, the
following:

If actual war broke out with Servia it would be _impossible_
to localize it, for _Russia_ was not prepared to give way
again.

Again, in Paper 72, (English "White Book,") dated July 28, 1914, from
the English Ambassador in Russia to Sir Edward Grey:

I made it clear to his Excellency (German Ambassador) that,
_Russia being thoroughly in earnest_, a general war could not
be averted if Servia were attacked by Austria.

Paper 121, (English "White Book,") British Ambassador in Berlin to Sir
Edward Grey under date of July 31, 1914:

He (the German Secretary of State) again assured me that both
the Emperor William, at the request of the Emperor of Russia,
and the German Foreign Office had even up till last night been
urging Austria to show willingness to continue
discussions--and telegraphic and telephonic communications
from Vienna had been of a promising nature--_but Russia's
mobilization had spoiled everything_.

I could repeat, _ad infinitum_, quotatio