gary alone.
Direct conversation with St. Petersburg having been refused by
Vienna, he would urge Germany that a return be made to your proposal
of a four-power conference.

Ambassador Bunsen reported from Vienna that there was no step to be
taken at present to stop war with Serbia, to which the Austro-Hungarian
Government was fully committed by the declaration of war, and Kaiser
Francis Joseph's appeal to his people, published this morning. In the
opinion of Duke d'Avarans, the Italian Ambassador, Russia might be
quieted by Austria-Hungary making a binding engagement not to destroy
Serbian independence nor seize Serbian territory, but this she would
refuse to do.

Sir Rennell Rodd, Ambassador at Rome, telegraphed that the Marquis
di San Giuliano would urge in Berlin an exchange of views by the
powers in London, and suggest that the German Secretary of State
propose a formula acceptable to his Government.

"The Secretary for Foreign Affairs remarked that it was difficult
to make Germany believe that Russia was in earnest. As Germany,
however, was really anxious for good relations with ourselves, if
she believed that Great Britain would act with Russia and France
he thought it would have a great effect."

Grey replied to Rodd that the London conference was now
impracticable owing to the attitude of Austria-Hungary, and that
Italy must now speak at Berlin and Vienna.

Grey telegraphed to Ambassador Goschen at Berlin that the German
Chancellor, Von Bethmann-Hollweg, said he was endeavoring to make
Austria satisfactorily explain at St. Petersburg the scope of her
proceedings in Serbia, but information comes from Vienna that
Austria declines to discuss the Serbian issue. Germany opposes the
four-power conference. I asked her to present her plan to prevent
war between Russia and Austria, France and Italy joined with my
request.

"Let mediation come into operation by any method that Germany
thinks possible if only Germany will 'press the button' in the
interests of peace."

Goschen telegraphed back to Grey that he had had an interview with
Bethmann-Hollweg who had just returned from Potsdam. The Chancellor
feared Germany's being drawn into war by Russia attacking her ally.

"He then proceeded to make the following strong bid for British
neutrality. He said that it was clear, so far as he was able to
judge the main principle which governed British policy, that