excitement, thus attempted to compromise France. The documents go far
to suggest this possibility but are not wholly convincing.

The German Ambassador on July the 24th, the very day that the
ultimatum reached the chancelleries of Europe, and on the day when von
Jagow untruthfully claimed that it had first reached Berlin, called
upon the French Minister for Foreign Affairs and read to him a formal
note, _of which he was unwilling to leave a copy_, although he
characterized it as a note of importance.

It may be here noted that on more than one occasion in this diplomatic
crisis the German representatives were unwilling to leave a copy of
the diplomatic messages which they orally communicated.

In his memorandum the French Minister for Foreign Affairs says:

The German Ambassador especially directed my attention to
the last two paragraphs of his note before he read it. He
indicated that in them lay the chief point. I took note of
the actual text, which is as follows: "The German Government
considers that the present question is a matter to be
settled exclusively between Austria-Hungary and Servia, and
that the Powers have the greatest interest in restricting
it to the two interested parties. The German Government
ardently desires the localization of the conflict, since by
the natural play of alliances any intervention by another
Power would have incalculable consequences."

I remarked to the German Ambassador that just as it appeared
to be legitimate to call for the punishment of all those
concerned in the crime of Serajevo, on the other hand it
seemed difficult to require measures which could not be
accepted, having regard to the dignity and sovereignty of
Servia; the Servian Government, even if it was willing to
submit to them, would risk being carried away by a
revolution.

I also pointed out to Herr von Schoen[52] that his note
only took into account two hypotheses: that of a pure and
simple refusal or that of a provocative attitude on the
part of Servia. The third hypothesis (which would leave
the door open for an arrangement) should also be taken
into consideration; that of Servia's acceptance and of
her agreeing at once to give full satisfaction for the
punishment of the accomplices and full guarantees for the
suppression of the anti-Austrian propaganda so far as they