genuous as the
whole course of German diplomacy in this matter. The statement that
Germany had pursued any mediatory negotiations was as untrue as its
statement that it had taken no measures for mobilization. Equally
disingenuous was the statement with respect to the _Kriegsgefahr_
(state of martial law), for when that was declared on July 31st,
the railroad, telegraph, and other similar public utilities were
immediately taken over by Germany and the movement of troops to the
frontier began.

After the fateful ultimatum had thus been given by Germany to Russia,
the British Ambassador, pursuant to the instructions of his home
office, saw the German Secretary of State on July 31st, and urged him

most earnestly to accept your [Sir Edward Grey's] proposal
and make another effort to prevent the terrible catastrophe
of a European war.

He [von Jagow] expressed himself very sympathetically toward
your proposal, and appreciated your continued efforts to
maintain peace _but said it was impossible for the Imperial
Government to consider any proposal until they had received
an answer from Russia to their communication of to-day_;
this communication, which he admitted had the form of an
ultimatum, being that, unless Russia could inform the
Imperial Government within twelve hours that she would
immediately countermand her mobilization against Germany and
Austria, Germany would be obliged on her side to mobilize at
once.

I asked his Excellency why they had made their demand even
more difficult for Russia to accept _by asking them to
demobilize in the south as well_. He replied that it was in
order to prevent Russia from saying that all her
mobilization was only directed against Austria.[80]

[Footnote 80: English _White Paper_, No. 121.]

The German Secretary of State also stated to Sir E. Goschen that both
the Emperor William and the German Foreign Office

had even up till last night been urging Austria to show
willingness to continue discussions, and telegraphic and
telephonic communications from Vienna had been of a
promising nature, but Russia's mobilization had spoiled
everything.

Here again it must be noted that the telegraphic communications from
Vienna have not yet been published by the Austrian Government, nor by
the German Foreign Office in its official defense.

Sir Edward Grey's last att