CHAPTER II THE AUSTRO-SERB CONFLICT The terms of the Austrian note - Efforts of the powers to secure an extension of the time limit - The powers influence Servia to make a conciliatory reply - Servia's reply - Austria rejects Servia's reply - The powers urge Austria to delay military operations and accept the Servian reply as a basis for discussion Austrian assurances Austria declares war on Servia Austria explains the purpose of her action. 1 1. The terms of the Austrian note 1 ALTHOUGH European diplomatists were alive to the danger of possible complications between Austria and Servia as a consequence of the assassination of the Archduke, there was no suspicion of any immediate cause for worry. It was expected, perhaps, that Austria would present an angry protest to Servia and that negotiations would be continued at the ordinary halting gait. Europe looked with anxious gaze farther south, where Austria and Italy were engaged in a diplomatic duel to secure control of the newly constituted state of Albania with its magnificent harbor of Avlona (Vallona) commanding the entrance to the Adriatic. Even in Albania it seemed that the very difficulty of the situation would make the rivals cautious, since England and France could be counted upon to throw their influence for peace, and Germany would not allow either of her allies to seize Avlona, which lay like an apple of discord between them; for a move on the part of either to gain possession would have meant the disruption of the Triple Alliance. So the diplomats took their usual vacations. Sir Edward Goschen, the British Ambassador, was absent from Berlin. The Russian Ambassador to Berlin had turned over his office to a chargé. The Kaiser 1 For the text of the Austrian note and Servia's answer, see Documents, post, chap. XIII. himself was on his annual cruise to Norway, while President Poincaré and Premier Viviani, who was also Minister for Foreign Affairs, were on an official visit to the Tsar at St. Petersburg.1 Sir Maurice de Bunsen, the British Ambassador at Vienna, in his dispatch of September 1, giving an account of the events preceding the war, says in substance: 2 'The presentation of the note, on July 23, was preceded by a period of absolute silence at the Ballplatz (Austrian Foreign Office), and with the exception of the German Ambassador, Von Tchirsky, who must have been aware of the tenor, if not of the actual words, of the note, none of his colleagues was allowed to see through the veil. 1 B. W. P. no. 6. On the 22d 2 As has been explained in the Preface, a single quotation is used at the beginning and at the end of the extracts which are somewhat modified so as to make it possible to include them in a running narrative of the events. In other instances the modification has been made so as to separate out from a document the part relating to the question under discussion in the text. The words "modified quotation" in parenthesis with the exact reference are placed at the end of all such quotations to enable the reader to ascertain, by referring to the source, how faithfully the original has been adhered to. Where the ordinary double quotations are employed, the original is strictly followed. The word "extract" is placed in the parenthesis after a direct quotation when a part only of the document is quoted. 3 M. Jovanovitch, Servian Minister at Vienna, stated in a report drawn up after the outbreak of hostilities: "In spite of all, it was known that a note was being framed to the Minister which should contain the grievances and claims of Austria-Hungary against Servia. This work was entrusted to Count Forgach, formerly Minister from Austria-Hungary to Servia. It was generally believed that, of the representatives of foreign countries, only the German Ambassador, Herr von Tchirsky, had been kept informed of the progress of this work, and I have reason to believe that he even collaborated in drawing up the note. Representatives of states favorable to us also agreed with me in thinking that, drafted by these two authors, the note would contain very hard conditions for Servia, and not such as she could accept. When the text of the note was made public, they were all taken by surprise, not to say dismayed." (Extract, August 16, S. B. B. no. 52.) As early as July 15 M. Jovanovitch telegraphed to Belgrade: “From now on, one thing is certain: Austria-Hungary will make diplomatic representations (démarches) at Belgrade as soon as the Serajevo investigation has been completed and the case presented to the tribunal." (Extract, July 15, S. B. B. no. 23.) In another telegram of the same date the Servian Minister furnishes his |