g a debate on foreign
affairs would serve to calm public opinion, and to dispel the
mistrust which was so regrettable from the point of view of the
relations between the two countries.

"Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg replied that he had fully appreciated
the feelings which had inspired our representations. He declared
that Germany had no intention of violating Belgian neutrality,
but he considered that in making a public declaration Germany
would weaken her military position in regard to France, who,
secured on the northern side, would concentrate all her energies
on the east.

"Since then, in 1913, Herr von Jagow [German Secretary of State]
had made reassuring declarations to the Budget Commission of the
Reichstag respecting the maintenance of Belgian neutrality.

"Herr von Below replied that he knew of the conversation with
Herr von Flotow, and that he was certain that the sentiments
expressed at that time had not changed."

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 1914

_Austria._ On the following day Count Szapary, Ambassador at St.
Petersburg, telegraphed to Count Berchtold, Minister for Foreign
Affairs, an interview with the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs.
"I first warned M. Sazonof," said the count, "that in interpreting
my instructions to him I must leave out of account the new condition
of affairs in Vienna created by the general Russian mobilization. I
then said that it was a mistake that Austria had declined further
negotiations with Russia.

"Your excellency was not only quite prepared to deal with Russia
on the broadest basis possible, but was also especially inclined
to subject the text of our note to a discussion so far as its
interpretation was concerned.

"I could only hope that the course of events had not already
taken us too far; in any case, I regarded it as my duty in the
present moment of extreme anxiety to prove once again the good
will of the Imperial and Royal Government. M. Sazonof replied
that he took note with satisfaction of this proof of good will,
but he desired to draw my attention to the fact that negotiations
at St. Petersburg for obvious reasons appeared to promise less
prospect of success than negotiations on the neutral _terrain_ of
London. I replied that your excellency, started from the point of
view that direct contact should be maintained