d that the general European question was involved, and
Great Britain could not afford to efface herself from the problems
now at issue.

Evidently Sazonof wants Great Britain to join in warning Austria
that her intervention in Serbia will not be tolerated. But suppose
Austria nevertheless wars in Serbia, will Russia forthwith declare
war on Austria?

A council of ministers is being held this afternoon on mobilization.
At a meeting to-morrow, where the czar will preside, a decision will
be come to.

Sir George said the important thing to do was to influence Austria
to extend the time limit. M. Paleologue, the French Ambassador, was
either set on war or was bluffing, and whichever it was, our only
chance for peace was to adopt a firm and united attitude. There was
no time to carry out Sir George's suggestion. The British Ambassador
then said that his Government might perhaps warn Austria that war
would probably mean Russian intervention, which would involve France
and Germany, and so make it hard for Great Britain to keep out of
the conflict. M. Sazonof answered that Great Britain would sooner or
later be dragged into war; war would be rendered more likely by
Great Britain if she did not make common cause with Russia and
France. President Poincare and M. Viviani, President of the Council,
being in Russia, it appears as if Austria had taken advantage of
their absence from France to present their ultimatum to Serbia. Even
though we do not join them it seems that France and Russia are
determined to make a strong stand.

Sir Maurice de Bunsen, British Ambassador at Vienna, telegraphed to
Sir Edward Grey that he was assured by M. Schebeko, Russian
Ambassador at Vienna, that Russia would not be indifferent to the
humiliation of Serbia. Prince Koudacheff, the Russian Charge
d'Affaires, had told Count Berchtold, the Austro-Hungarian Minister
for Foreign Affairs, that the note to Serbia was unusual and
peremptory, and drawn up in a form rendering its acceptance
impossible. The count replied that the Austro-Hungarian Minister
would leave Belgrade at the time set if Serbia did not yield. The
Dual Monarchy felt that its very existence was at stake. The step
taken by the Government was approved by the country. He did not
think objections would be raised by the powers.

Sir Edward Grey informed Sir Francis Bertie, British Ambassador at
Paris of a conversation with M. Cambon, the French Ambassador at
London, over an intended int