test
against this criminal action of the war party (_Kriegshetzer_). It
(the Social Democratic Party) demands imperatively that the German
Government should exercise all its influence on the Austrian
Government to preserve peace, and in case this infamous war cannot be
prevented then to abstain from any warlike interference. No single
drop of blood of a single German soldier may be sacrificed to gratify
the lust for power of the Austrian autocracy, the Imperial
profit-interests.

"Comrades! we call upon you to give expression to the working-classes'
unshakable will for peace in mass meetings. This is a serious moment,
more solemn than any in the last few decades. There is danger in
delay. A world war threatens us. The ruling classes who enslave,
despise and exploit you in times of peace desire now to misuse you as
cannon-fodder. From all sides the cry must ring in the ears of those
in authority: We don't want war! Down with war!

"Long live international brotherhood!

"Berlin, July 25th, 1914.

"_The Leaders of the Party_."

Two days later the _Leipziger Tageblatt_ announced that the Public
Prosecutor had commenced proceedings against the editors of _Vorwaerts_
for having distributed the above appeal in pamphlet form in the streets
of Berlin. From this fact we may conclude that the charges thrown out by
the Social Democratic Party were by no means congenial to the plans of
the German Government.

The Liberal _Berliner Tageblatt_ (July 24th), gave its unreserved
support to Austria's action. "The Austrian Government has voiced its
demands in a calm and serious tone which contains nothing offensive to
the Serbian monarchy. Everyone who has considered the results of the
inquiry into the tragedy of Serajewo, and the burrowing of Serbian
propagandists in Austria, must give his absolute sanction to the
latter's demands. Much as every right-thinking man must desire that
peace should be preserved, still he must admit that Austria could not
have acted otherwise."

Even the _Vossische Zeitung_, the organ of army circles, was more
conservative in its judgment. In the issue for July 24th a leading
article runs: "It cannot be denied that nearly every point raised by
Austria in her note is an encroachment on Serbia's sovereign rights.
Austria appears as the policeman, who undertakes to create order in
Serbia, because the Serbian Government, according to Austria's claim, is
unable to hold i