d go the length of saying that if Russia
and France would not accept it his majesty's Government would
have nothing more to do with the consequences; but, otherwise, I
told German Ambassador that if France became involved we should
be drawn in.

"You can add this when sounding Chancellor [Bethmann-Hollweg] or
Secretary of State as to proposal above."

Goschen telegraphed Grey that the whole Russian army and fleet were
mobilizing, and that _Kriegsgefahr_ (imminence of war) will be
proclaimed at once by Germany, as it can be only against her that
Russian general mobilization is directed. German mobilization would
follow almost immediately.

Ambassador Buchanan telegraphed from St. Petersburg that Russian
general mobilization had been ordered because of news from Vienna

"that Austria is determined not to yield to intervention of
powers, and that she is moving troops against Russia as well as
against Serbia.

"Russia has also reason to believe that Germany is making active
military preparations, and she cannot afford to let her get a
start."

Grey telegraphed to Ambassador Bertie at Paris:

"I still trust that situation is not irretrievable, but in view
of mobilization in Germany it becomes essential to his majesty's
Government, in view of existing treaties, to ask whether French
Government are prepared to engage to respect neutrality of
Belgium so long as no other power violates it."

The same telegram, with change of words, "French Government" to
"German Government," was sent to Ambassador Goschen at Berlin. Grey
asked Sir Francis Villiers, Ambassador at Brussels, to inform M.
Davignon, Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, of these telegrams,
and to say:

"I assume that the Belgian Government will maintain to the utmost
of their power their neutrality, which I desire and expect other
powers to uphold and observe."

Grey telegraphed to Ambassador Bertie at Paris:

"Nobody here feels that in this dispute, so far as it has yet
gone, British treaties or obligations are involved. Feeling is
quite different from what it was during the Morocco question.
That crisis involved a dispute directly involving France, whereas
in this case France is being drawn into a dispute which is not
hers.

"I believe it to be quite untrue that our attitude has been a
decisive factor in situat