me suggestion which he could telegraph to German
Government as a last hope. M. Sazonof accordingly drew up
and handed to German Ambassador a formula in French, of
which the following is a translation:

"_If Austria, recognizing that her conflict with Servia has
assumed character of question of European interest, declares
herself ready to eliminate from her ultimatum points which
violate principle of sovereignty of Servia, Russia engages
to stop all military preparations._"

Later in the day, at the suggestion of Sir Edward Grey, the Russian
Foreign Minister still further modified in the interests of peace the
proposition upon which Russia was willing to cease all military
preparations.

If Austria consents to stay the march of her armies upon
Servian territory, and if, recognizing that the
Austro-Servian conflict has assumed the character of a
question of European interest, she admits that the great
Powers examine _the reparation which Servia could accord to
the Government of Austria-Hungary without injury to her
rights as a sovereign State_ and to her independence--Russia
undertakes to maintain her expectant attitude.

It will be noted that this formula implied that Servia owed some
reparation to Austria, and it did not bind Austria to accept the
judgment of the Powers as to the character of such reparation.

It simply conceded to the Powers the opportunity to "examine"--not
the original controversy between Austria and Servia--but what
reparation could be made without a compromise of sovereignty and
independence. Austria did not bind itself to do anything except to
stay the advance of her army into Servia, while Russia agreed to
desist from further preparations or mobilization.

Could the offer have been more liberal? In face of this assurance, how
can the Kaiser or Germany reasonably contend that it was the
mobilization of the Russian army which precipitated the war.

In the meantime Sir Edward Grey was working tirelessly to suggest some
peace formula, upon which the Powers could agree. His suggestions for
a conference of the four leading Powers of Europe, other than Russia
and Austria, had been negatived by Germany on the frivolous pretext
that such a conference was "too formal a method," quite ignoring the
fact that its very formality would have necessarily given a "cooling
time" to the would-be belligerents. Thereupon Sir Edwar