uld prevent complications,"
and to suggest that the ministers should instruct their
representatives at Belgrade, Vienna, and St. Petersburg to request a
suspension of military operations pending results of the conference.

Sir Maurice de Bunsen, British Ambassador at Vienna, telegraphed to
Sir Edward Grey that the Russian Ambassador, M. Schebeko, just
returned from leave of absence, thinks Austria-Hungary determined on
war, and that it will be impossible for Russia to remain
indifferent. He and the French Ambassador, M. Dumaine, doubt whether
the principle of Grey's suggestion that Russia, being an interested
party, is entitled to have a say in a purely Austro-Serbian dispute,
would be accepted by either Austria-Hungary or Germany.

_France._ M. Bienvenu-Martin, Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs,
notified M. Viviani, Prime Minister on board _La France_, and the
French Ambassadors at London, St. Petersburg, Berlin, Vienna, and
Rome, of the events at Belgrade on Saturday, July 25, ending with
the order for mobilization given by the Serbian Government, which
had retired to Kragoujewatz, whither it was followed by the French
and Russian Ministers. At Vienna people "soothe themselves with the
illusion that Russia 'will not hold firm.'"

"It must not be forgotten that Italy is bound by the engagements
of the Triple Alliance only if she has been consulted beforehand.

"From St. Petersburg we learn that M. Sazonof [Minister for
Foreign Affairs] has advised Serbia to ask for British mediation.
At the Council of Ministers on the 25th, which was held in
presence of the emperor, the mobilization of thirteen army corps
intended eventually to operate against Austria was considered;
this mobilization, however, would only be made effective if
Austria were to bring armed pressure to bear upon Serbia, and not
till after notice had been given by the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, upon whom falls the duty of fixing the day, liberty
being left to him to go on with negotiations even if Belgrade
should be occupied. Russian opinion makes clear that it is both
politically and morally impossible for Russia to allow Serbia to
be crushed.

"In London the German _demarche_ was made on the 25th, in the
same terms as those used by Baron von Schoen at Paris. Sir Edward
Grey has replied to Prince Lichnowsky that if the war were to
break out no power in