eparations, provided that Austria declares herself
satisfied with the occupation of Belgrade and the neighboring
Serbian territory as a pledge for a satisfactory settlement of
her demands, while at the same time the other countries suspend
their preparations for war. I rely on William applying his great
influence in order to induce Austria to accept this proposal. In
this way he will prove that Germany and England are working
together to prevent what would be an international catastrophe.
Please assure William that I am doing all I can, and will
continue to do all that lies in my power, to maintain the peace
of Europe."

_Russia._ M. Strandtman, Charge d'Affaires in Serbia, telegraphed
from Nish to M. Sazonof, Minister for Foreign Affairs at St.
Petersburg, that Prince Regent Alexander had yesterday published a
manifesto, signed by all the Serbian Ministers, on Austria's
declaration of war against Serbia.

M. Sazonof telegraphed to the ambassadors at Berlin, Vienna, Paris,
London, and Rome:

"The German Ambassador [Count Pourtales], who has just left me,
has asked whether Russia would not be satisfied with the promise
which Austria might give--that she would not violate the
integrity of the Kingdom of Serbia--and whether we could not
indicate upon what conditions we would agree to suspend our
military preparations. I dictated to him the following
declaration to be forwarded to Berlin for immediate action:

"'If Austria, recognizing that the Austro-Serbian question has
assumed the character of a question of European interest,
declares herself ready to eliminate from her ultimatum points
which violate the sovereign rights of Serbia, Russia engages to
stop her military preparations.'

"Please inform me at once by telegraph what attitude the German
Government will adopt in face of this fresh proof of our desire
to do the utmost possible for a peaceful settlement of the
question, for we cannot allow such discussions to continue solely
in order that Germany and Austria may gain time for their
military preparations."

Ambassador Swerbeiev telegraphed from Berlin that the order for the
mobilization of the German army and navy had just been issued. He
followed this with a telegram stating that Secretary of State von
Jagow had just telephoned him that the news was false:

"the