not approve of the anti-Serbian policy of Vienna, the
German Embassy here is at this very moment encouraging such a
policy."

In a third letter of the same date M. Yovanovitch informed the Prime
Minister that it appeared that Austria-Hungary would not invite the
Serbian Government to assist her in discovering and punishing the
culprits of the Sarajevo crime, but would make it a case against
Serbia and the Serbians, or even against the Jugo-Slavs (on her own
border), looking in this for the approval of Europe, which would
prepare the way for the sharp reactionary measures she contemplated
to take internally to suppress the great Serbian propaganda and the
Jugo-Slav idea. The Government must take some action for the sake of
its prestige at home as well as abroad....

The accusation against Serbia will extend from April, 1909, to the
present. Austria-Hungary will claim to the powers that the facts
developed therein give her the right to take diplomatic steps at
Belgrade, and demand that Serbia in future act as a loyal neighbor.
Austria-Hungary will ask Serbia to accept unconditionally her
demands.

On the same day, July 15, 1914, M. Dumaine, French Ambassador at
Vienna, reported to M. Viviani, Prime Minister at Paris, that
certain press organs in Vienna, specifically the "Militaerische
Rundschau," represented France and Russia as incapable of holding
their own in European affairs, and that Austria-Hungary, with the
support of Germany, could therefore subject Serbia to any treatment
she pleased. The "Rundschau" argued that now was the most propitious
time for the war in which Austria-Hungary would have to engage in
two or three years at the latest.

"At this moment the initiative rests with us: Russia is not
ready, moral factors and right are on our side, as well as might.
Since we shall have to accept the contest some day, let us
provoke it at once. Our prestige, our position as a great power,
our honor, are in question; and yet more, for it would seem that
our very existence is concerned....

"Surpassing itself, the 'Neue Freie Presse' of to-day reproaches
Count Tisza for the moderation of his second speech, in which he
said: 'Our relations with Serbia require, however, to be made
clear.' These words rouse its indignation. For it tranquillity
and security can result only from a _war to the knife_ against
Pan-Serbism, and it is in the name of hum