mbassador Szapary telegraphed from St. Petersburg that M. Sazonof,
Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, was greatly excited over the
alleged disinclination of Austria-Hungary to continue exchange of
ideas with Russia, and over her mobilization, which is supposed to
be more extensive than necessary, and therefore directed against
Russia.

I visited the minister to explain matters. I agreed that you (Count
Berchtold) had declined to discuss the wording of the Serbian reply,
but made it clear that we had no intention, if the conflict remained
localized, to annex Serbian territory or touch her sovereignty, and
would always be ready to keep in touch with St. Petersburg on
Austro-Hungarian and Russian interests.

M. Sazonof accepted the assurance in regard to territory, but on the
point of sovereignty said he must continue to believe that our
coercion of Serbia would result in her becoming our vassal, and that
this would upset equilibrium in the Balkans, and so involve Russian
interests. Russia recognized our legitimate interest there, but its
assertion must be acceptable to Serbia.

"I expressed the view that this was not a Russian but a Serbian
interest, whereupon M. Sazonof claimed that Russian interests
were in this case Serbian interests, so that I was obliged to
make an end of the vicious circle by going on to a new topic.

"I mentioned that I had heard that there was a feeling of anxiety
in Russia, because we had mobilized eight corps for action
against Serbia. M. Sazonof assured me that it was not he (who
knew nothing about this) but the Chief of the General Staff who
had expressed this anxiety. I endeavored to convince the minister
that any unprejudiced person could easily be persuaded that our
southern corps could not constitute a menace for Russia.

"I indicated to the minister that it would be well if his
Imperial Master were informed of the true situation, as it was
urgently necessary, if it was desired to maintain peace, that a
speedy end should be put to the military competition which now
threatened to ensue on account of false news.

"The minister further informed me that a ukase would be signed
to-day, which would give orders for a mobilization in a somewhat
extended form. He was able, however, to assure me in the most
official way that these troops were not intended to attack us.
They would only s