ple Entente might exercise at Vienna.

"On the other hand, M. Sazonof [Russian Prime Minister] assumes
that Germany will desire to support her ally and I am afraid that
this impression is correct. Nothing but the assurance of the
solidarity of the Triple Entente can prevent the German powers
from emphasizing their provocative attitude."

M. Paul Cambon, French Ambassador at London, reported to M.
Bienvenu-Martin an interview with Sir Edward Grey, British Secretary
for Foreign Affairs. Cambon and Grey were agreed that everything
must be done to avert the crisis, and that the British Cabinet
should take the initiative in offering mediation by the four powers
not directly interested, Great Britain, France, Russia and Germany.
If Germany assented, time would be gained, and this was the
essential point.

"Sir Edward Grey told me that he would discuss with Prince
Lichnowsky the proposal. I mentioned the matter to my Russian
colleague [Count Benckendorff] who is afraid of a surprise from
Germany, and who imagines that Austria would not have dispatched
her ultimatum without previous agreement with Berlin.

"Count Benckendorff told me that Prince Lichnowsky, when he
returned from leave about a month ago, had intimated that he held
pessimistic views regarding the relations between St. Petersburg
and Berlin. He had observed the uneasiness caused in this latter
capital by the rumors of a naval entente between Russia and Great
Britain, by the czar's visit to Bucharest, and by the
strengthening of the Russian army. Count Benckendorff had
concluded from this that a war with Russia would be looked upon
without disfavor in Germany.

"The Under-Secretary of State [Sir Arthur Nicholson] has been
struck, as all of us have been, by the anxious looks of Prince
Lichnowsky since his return from Berlin, and he considers that if
Germany had wished to do so she could have stopped the dispatch
of the ultimatum.

"The situation, therefore, is as grave as it can be, and we see
no way of arresting the course of events.

"However, Count Benckendorff thinks it right to attempt the
demarche upon which I have agreed with Sir Edward Grey."

In a second letter M. Cambon reported receipt of the details of the
Austrian ultimatum.

"In consultation with my Russian colleague, who thinks it
extremely d