Vienna which I have had forwarded to London. I just received
news from Chancellor that official notification has just
reached him that this night Nicky has ordered the
mobilization of his whole army and fleet. He has not even
awaited the results of the mediation I am working at, and
left Me without any news. I am off for Berlin to take
measures for ensuring safety of My eastern frontiers where
strong Russian troops are already posted.[66]

[Footnote 66: Second German _White Paper_.]

On its face this reply seems not unreasonable, but it must not be
forgotten that Austria continued not only to bombard Belgrade but to
mobilize its armies against Russia as well as Servia. Russia agreed to
stop all military preparations, if Austria would consent to discuss
the Servian question with a view to peace. Austria until the eleventh
hour--when it was too late--refused even to discuss the Servian
question and never offered either to demobilize or to cease its attack
upon Servia. Germany upheld her in this unwarrantable course.

While in principle the Kaiser agreed with the King as to the method of
adjustment, there is nothing in the record to indicate that the Kaiser
ever made any suggestion to his ally that it should stop its
operations against Servia after capturing Belgrade, and await the
adjustment of the questions through diplomatic channels.

Thereupon King George sent a brief telegram, stating that he had sent
an urgent telegram to the Czar urging this course. Later on July 31st
the Kaiser sent the following telegram to the Czar:

Upon Your appeal to my friendship and Your request for my
aid I have engaged in mediation between Your Government and
the Government of Austria-Hungary. While this action was
taking place, Your troops were being mobilized against my
ally, Austria-Hungary, whereby, as I have already
communicated to You, my mediation has become almost
illusory. In spite of this, I have continued it, and now I
receive reliable news that serious preparations for war are
going on on my eastern frontier. The responsibility for the
security of my country forces me to measures of defense. I
have gone to the extreme limit of the possible in my efforts
for the preservation of the peace of the world. It is not I
who bear the responsibility for the misfortune which now
threatens the entire civilized world. It rests