view
just held with Count Szapary, the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador.

"After discussing the ten demands addressed to Serbia, I drew his
attention to the fact that, quite apart from the clumsy form in
which they were presented, some of them were quite impracticable,
even if the Serbian Government agreed to accept them. Thus, for
example, points one and two could not be carried out without
recasting the Serbian press law and associations law, and to that
it might be difficult to obtain the consent of the Skupshtina. As
for enforcing points four and five, this might lead to most
dangerous consequences, and even to the risk of acts of terrorism
directed against the Royal Family and against Pashitch, which
clearly could not be the intention of Austria. With regard to the
other points it seemed to me that, with certain changes of
detail, it would not be difficult to find a basis of mutual
agreement, if the accusations contained in them were confirmed by
sufficient proof.

"In the interest of the maintenance of peace, which, according to
the statements of Szapary, is as much desired by Austria as by
all the powers, it was necessary to end the tension of the
present moment as soon as possible. With this object in view it
seemed to me most desirable that the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador
should be authorized to enter into a private exchange of views in
order to redraft certain articles of the Austrian note of July 23
in consultation with me. This method of procedure would perhaps
enable us to find a formula which would prove acceptable to
Serbia, while giving satisfaction to Austria in respect of the
chief of her demands. Please convey the substance of this
telegram to the Minister for Foreign Affairs in a judicious and
friendly manner."

Communicated to Russian Ambassadors in Germany, France, Great
Britain, and Italy. The Ambassador at Berlin was requested to
communicate the contents of the telegram to Secretary of State von
Jagow, and express to him the hope that he would advise Vienna to
meet Russia's proposal in a friendly spirit.

M. Sevastopoulo, Charge d'Affaires at Paris, telegraphed M. Sazonof
that, when M. Berthelot, French Political Director, informed Count
Szecen, Austro-Hungarian Ambassador, of the Serbian reply to the
ultimatum, the count did not conceal his surprise that it