HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Clinton New Era, 1914-11-26, Page 3'Thursday, July 30th, 1911,
THE CLINTON NEW ERA.
PAGE; THREE
Britain is
a�
A Brief, but interesting Understandable Resume of the Diplomatic Correspondence and Speeches of Ministers in
which the Causes and Issues of, the present Conflict are Clearly Defined.
r' i SOME DATES
{The references are to the number
ed documents in the White Papers
•
July 23 -Austrian Ultimatum to e
Servia. (No. 4,),
July 24 -England's proposal of mel
ration by England, France, Ger-
many'
and Italy (No. 10)
.July 25-Servian Reply to the Uiti-
Menem (No.39)
July 26 German Emperor's sud-
den return to Berlin (No. 33)
July 27 -Germany's refusal to ac-
cept England's proposal (No. 43)
July 28—Austrian' Declaration of
War against Servia (No. 50) 'Mil-
itary operations commenced No
65) Austria's refusal of direct
negotiation With Russia (No. 74)
July 29—Partial Russianmobilisat-
ion, "only directed against Aus-
tria" (No. 78)
.July' 29 -German Chancellor's "in-
famous )proposals" to England
(No.. 85)
July 30—German military prepara-
tions against Russia (No. 97\
July. 30—German advance posts on
French. frontier (No. 105)
July 31—German (No, 112), 'Austr-
ian (No, 118), and Russian mob-
ilisation (No. 113), German .Ult-
imatum to Russia (No. 117) Ger-
man "menacing communication"
to France (No. 128) England's
notes to Germany and France on
neutrality of Belgium (No. 114)
- .Aug. 1—King George's personal
message to the Tsar (Times, Aug.
5) French (No. 136 )and German
((1o. 142) mobilisation. German
declaration of War against Rus-
sia (No. 138)
Aug. 2—German (troops enter
France and Luxembourg (No.141)
Aug, 3—German Ultimatum to Bel-
gium (No; 153) British fleet 1
mobilised.
Aug. 4 Belgian +Anneal to Eng-
1111111111111111111111111111114111901117
minds, and similai• advice was
given to her by France and prob-
ably by Russia. The Servian gov-
er•runentreplied; within 'the ap-
pointed time, conceding the great-
er part of the Austrian demands
The conceded demands were of a
very; stringent charecter. The
Servian reply "involved" said
Sir Edward Grey, "the greatest
humiliation that he had ever seen
a country undergo," Nevertheless
Austria refused to accept there.-'
.ply, and declared war against Ser -
via (July 28). Thepart of the
Austrian demands which Servia
had felt unable to concede touch-
ed her very existence, as an inde-
pendent state, and with regardto
these matters she offered to sub-
mit' them to the Hague Tribunal
The fact that Austria, while receiv
ing satisfaction on the other points
had made the refusal of the lat-
ter points a casus Belli raised
suspicions of her ultimate inten-
tions, "The real ggestion ' said,
the Russian foreign minister, "was
whether Austria was to crush Ser-
via and to reduce her to the sta-
tus of a vassal, or whether she
was to leave Servia a free and.
independent state" ,
The Larger Issues Involved
It had been recognized from the
first that the case of Servia could
not be isolated. The aggression:
upon Servia by Austria (with the
pi eeious consent of Germany) was
bound to involve other Powers.
The German government did in-
deed Protest to Sir Edward Grey
that "the duestion at iasi&e was one
for settlement between Servia and
see, this dispute was bound to Austria alone"; but everybody else
There was recently published in have ulterior consequences, it is knew that it could not be so, and
England for circulation, by the Vic -'necessary to understand what the the German government as we
toria League, which has asits oh- i dispute was about sisal' see presently, seem to have
ject thedistribution of information
setting forth the causes which led
to the present European war, a
a-e-----apantiph1et from the pen of Sir.'Ed••
ward Cools, entitled "Why Britain
is at War?' which sets forth in brief
but:.understandable from the dip-
lomatic correspondence pre-
cededwhieh
•
the
'declaration of war
and
fg
,the speeches of ministers following
the declaration. This is a subject,
the importance of which cannotbe.
•over-estimated;• and on which all
Britishers should be thoroughly
informed, for which reason, The
.New Era publishes the contents of of Austria-Hungary belong, On
the pamphlet in full.
° It was a reflection of the first
of political philosophers that dis-
turbances in states, though, they
may arise on trifling occasions, do
not involve trifling issues. The
present world-wide war started
} from the case of Servia, but in- sign of the Turks; the administra-
tion even from the start, mush i tion of it had been given to AUS -
larger
issues. If only a dispute
between Servia and Austria-Hunt'ia, by a Berlin treaty after the
Bary had been in question, Britain n I Russo-Turkish war, in 1878; and
as Sir Edward Grey repeatedly in 1908 Austria had annexed ir.
stated, would have no concern in The Austrian government alleged
h crime
not proved)that the cr
(but has
the affair. But since, as we shall (u ] , -
_ I of Serajevo was a culminating
point in a "subversive moment"
"c
As The Resuit • organized by the Servian Govern
land (153) G declaration, ,SMR. WINSTON CHURCH LL R
of war. againsteBelgium110.'154) First Lord of the Admiralty
(
English Ultimatum to Germany k'
(No. 159)
THE CASE OF SERVIA
Servia is a small, but very, an-
cient kingdom in the Balkan pen-
insula. It obtained considerable.
accession of territory as the result
of the recent wars in the Balkans,
the war between the Balkan states
and T
u key,
and then the war
a-
mong the Balkan states them -
sell es.
them-
selves. The Servian people are
akin, in race and religion, to the
Slays, of which race Russia is the
predominant power, and to which
race, also many of the subjects.
June28, 1914, "the, crime at Ser-
ajevo," was committed, ,namely,
the murder of the hen e,pparent
to .the throne of eustrii-Hungary
and his consort inthe capital of
Boards, That province, once a
part of the an:ient Servian king-
dom, had fallen into the posses -
0.
Ot'a Neglected Cold•a part of the territories of Aus•
He Contracted 'tris •
Hungary from the more.rchy."
On July 23 the Austrian Govern-
ment addressed an ultimatum to,
Servia. Austria 'had been "left.a
spent with the ob'act of detaching
SEVERE BRONCHIAL TROUBLE.
Mr. W. T. Allen, Halifax, N.S., writes: perfectly free hand" by Germany.
"I feel that I would be doing you and
your great remedy, Dr Wood's Norway It was admitted by Sir •Ldward,.
Pine Syrup, a gross injustice if I did, not Grey thAit••"one naturally sympa-
write and let you know the wonderful thized with .many of the require
results that I have obtained from its ,menta of the ultimatum" and that
use.
Last spring 1 happened to contract a ` "the murder of the Archduke and
cold. Of course, this is a common.oc- some of the circumstances re-
curence, and I did not take any particu- specting Servia quoted in the:
lar notice of it at the time. However, it
did not breakup as quickly as colds (Austrian) note aroused sympathy
generally did with me, so after two weeks, with Austria:" Russia also admit -
and no sign of improvement, I began ted that "the demands were rea-
to get alarmed, and went to my local •sonable enough :4n some cases:".
physician who informed me that I lead
contracted severe bronchial trouble as a But there were two featui es in the
result of neglecting my cold. He pre- j ustrtan ultimatum which caused
scribed some medicine for' me, which I : ala'rm and regret to those who
took for about two weeks without any
sign of improvement. I was getting desired to see the peace of hu -
pretty much discouraged by then, but tope maintained. The first was
one day a friend happened'to be in to the inclusion of a time 14ni)t so
whom i was relating my trouble, and he
advised me to try Dr. Wood's Norway short (48 )sours) as to leave diplo-
Pine. Syrup, saying that he had obtained macs,- little time to avert cvar. The
acs m lareease, ficial r1 tookf hris advice and serval wasthat what ;at,. Erni de -
m its use in
procured severe( bottles from my drug- 1 mantled within 48 horn's was not a ,
gist. ; After taking it, according to.direc-
tions, for about two clays, :I noticed'a
decided improvement, and from that
day on I began to get better, and in ten
days 'I was in my usual health. I con-
sider this an excellent showing for year
remedy, and can highly recommend it to
anyone afflicted as I was. 1 shall always
put in a good word for it whenever- the
opportunity offers itself," -
You can procure Dr. Wood's Norway
Pine Syrup from any cirtiggist or dealer.
known this also. The relations be-
.tween Austria and Russia had al
ready been strained. •by the Aus
•
trian annexation of Bosnia. and
Herzgovina.' Aggression by Aus-
tria upon Servia was certain; to
be regarded by Russia with the
utmost alarm and indignation.
During the Balkan crisis the ,Rus-
sian foreign minister "had made it
clear to the Austrian: government
that war with Russia roust inevit-
ably follow an attack on Servia
It was clear that Austrian dom-
ination of Servia was as intolerable
for -Russia as the dependence of.
thel Netherlands on 'Germany
'would be to Great Britain," "Ic
must be obvious," said Sia ,Edward
Grey in the House of Commons
(July 27), "to any person who re-
flects upon the situation that the
moment the dispute ceases to be
one between Austria-Hungary and
Servia and becomes one in which
another Great Power is involved
it can but end in the greatest
catastrophe that has ever befallen
the Continent of Europe, in one
blow; no one can say what would
be the limit of the issues that
might be raised by such a con-
flict" War between Russia and
Austria, in a cause where Ger-
many had supported the latter,
must involve Germany as her ally
and France would be drawn as
the ally of Russia. The action of
Austria and Germany in the case
of Servia was thus likely to
challenge a European war. Eng-
land and France and Russia saw
this. Italy, the ally of Austria and
Germany, saw it also. When the
general war was breaking out, the I
Italian government, being asked
to state its intentions, replied;
The war undertaken by Austria;
and the consequences which might
result, had, in the words of the
German ambassador himself., ', ran
aggressive. (object. Both Were
therefore in conflict with the pure
ly defensive character .of the Trip-
le Alliance, and in such (circum- -
stances Italy would remain neu-
tral." "'We`are fully conscious,"
said the German government it-
self, that a possible warlike pro-
cedure by Austria-Hungary against
Servia : might bring Russia eon
the scene and so involve us in war
in accordance with our duties as
Allies," "As, for Germany," said
the German ambassedor,at Vienna
to the British, "she knew very
well what 'she was about in hack-
ing -up Austria-Hungary in this
matter." •
Britain's Efforts for Peace. '
Forseeing all this, Sir' Edward j
Grey, whose efforts during the re-
cent Balkan wars had won for him
the title of the Peacemaker of
Europe, was early in the field with
proposals for averting war, and
the B it•is 1 t'
to the very last moment of the
last hour in that.great and bene-
firient but unhappily frustratedfrustratedpurpose," (Mr. Asquith.)
Already on July 20, having re-
ceived an inkling of what was on
foot, Sir Edward Grey spoke to
the German ambassador of the
importance. if the peace of Europe
was to be preserved, of Austria
"keeping her demand within rea-
sonable limits." The suggestion
was not adopted. The German
foreign secretary "considered it
inadvisable that the Austro-Hun-
garian government should be ap-
preached 'by the German govern-
ment on the matter" (July 22). The
rh governmen persisted
iepiy, but the reply dictated by''
Austria. "1 that! never before seen
said Sir Edward Grey, "one state
address to another independ ent
state a document of so torn idanle
a character." The Ger;nan foreign
secretary "admitted that the Ser
vian government could not swat -
lose certain of tee AUstro-Runge-A
Price, 25c and 50c:. The genuine is an demands." Sir 'litlwatd trre'y
• manufactured only by The T.-M1lburu advised 17erv:ia to go to the`: fur -
Co., Limited, 'resonto, Ont,
hereat paint in meeting these de -
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ADMI RA L S)R,GEORGE CALLAGHAN
aext in command to Sir John Jellicoe
Austrian untimatum which 'Uhe
same minister "admitted that the
Servian government could not
swallow," was despatched un the
following clay.
1 On July 23, having heard from
the Austrian ambassador an out-
line of what the Austrian note con
tained 'Sir Edward Grey pressed
upon him, and also upon the Ger-
man government the desirability
of persuading the Austrian gov-
ernment to extend its time -limit
The Russian government took the
same line. The German ambassa-
dor was instrur'ted to "pass on"
Sir Edward Grey's suggestion, but
the German foreign secretary said
that "there would be delay and
difficulty -in getting the time -limit
ex•tended," adding, "quite freely,'
that the Austro-Hungarian gov- (
eminent wish to give the ner-
vians a lesson and meant to take
military action."
On July 24, having received the
text of the Austrian ultimatum,
and forsesing that if Austria at-
tacked Servia, Russia would mobil-
ize, Sir Edward Grey proposed
that Germany, France, Italy and
Great Britain, who had not direct
interests in Servia, should act to-
gether for the sake of peace, sim-
ultaneously in Vienna and St, Pet -
g,
1
erebui "in the event the
i t e
relations •)ations betweeit Austria and
Russia becoming threatening. .
It
would be very desirable, he said
to the German'ambassador, "to get
Austria not.to precipitate military
action and so gain more time. But
none of us could influence Austria
in this direction unless Germany
would propose and participate in
such action at Vienna.." France
was favorable to this plan, so was
Italy. Russia was "quite ready
to stand aside and leave theques-
tion in the hands of England,
France, Germany and Italy." Hav-
ing thus received assurances that,
if only Germany agreed his plan
, might be efficacious. Sir Edward
I Grey on July 26 formally invited
the governments of France, Ger-
many and Italy to instruct their
several ambassadors to confer with
him "for the purpose of discover-
ing an issue which would prevent
complications" The invitation
was accepted by France and Italy.
The German foreign secretary
"could not fall in with the sug-
gestion, desirous though he (vas' to
co-operate for the maintenance of
peace" (July 27):
Sir Edward Cirey thereupon salt
the German • ambassador (July 27)
and, promised "as long as, Ger-
many would work to keep 011e
peace I would •keep closely in
touch, I repeated that after the
Servian reply it was at Vienna
that some moderation must be
urged." On the .following day
(July 2)) Austria; -Hungary declared.
war on. Se^via. ,
As the German Government was
understood to have accepted "in
principle" the idea.•oaf mediation
by the four Powers between'Aus-
tria and Russia, it was proposed
"that the German secretary ' of
State should suggest the lines on
which this principle should be ap-
plied." The German Government
made no suggestion of the kind.
Sir Edward Grey's scheme , had
temporarily been in abeyance, as
the the Russian Government had
offered to discuss matter's, with
the Austrian direct. This offer
was declined by Austria (July 28).
Sir Edward Grey next appealed
to the German Chancellor "if we
can induce Austria to: `' satisfy
Russia and to abstain from going
so far as to come into collision
with her, we shall alloin in deep
gratitude to his. Excelllency for
ha.c ing saved the peace' of Europe"
(July 29). The Italian Government.
,blade certain proposals to Great
Britain to 'which we shall come
presently, after which the Prime
Minister afterwards characterized
as "infamous." But so persistent
was the British Govermnent ii*
pursuit of peace that Sir ]7dch ard'
Grey in declining the . proposals
used i language of great restraint
(July 30) and accoinpanied los re-
fusal by yet another "most earnest
appeal to the German Chancellor
"The one way of maintaining tlic
good relations betw}een, England
1 and Germany is thait they shoulci,
!continue to work to-gether to pre
.
I serve the peace of Europe; if we
succeed in this object the mutual
relations of Germany andEnglancl
will, I believe be ipso facto ' am -
prove and strengthen. For
that object His Majesty's Govern
merit will work in that way with all
sincerity and goodwill. And d
will say this; If the peace of
Europe can be preserved and th,
crisis safely passed my own en-
deavor will be to promote some
arrangement' to which Germany
could be a party by which she conic:
be assured that no aggressive, 0.
hostile policy would be pursued.
against her or her allies by Franco
Russia and ourselves, jointly or
sap arately." .
On'tite following day (July 3i,
Sir, Edward Grey gave proof 0_
his sincerity. "I said. to German
Ambassador this morning that if
Germany could get any reasonable
proposal put forward which made
it clear that Germany and Austria
were striving toperserve Europ-
ean peace, and. that Russia and
France wouldbe unreasonable iI
they rejected it, Iwould support it
at St. Petersburg! and Paris and go
the length of saying that if Russia,
and France would not accept Ric
Majesty's Government would hat
nothing more to do withthe conse
quenceo." In order net to leetne
this matter in the region of genes
alities he threw out a suggestion, Ir'
Germany would sound Vienna he
would sound St. Petersburg whet},.
er it would be possible for the four
disinterested Powers to offer to
Austria to undertake to see that
she obtained full satisfaction for
demands on: Servia provided they
did notimpair Servia sovereignty
and the integrity of Servia terri-
tory. That Russia was ready to
accept such a solution is clear from
a peace formula which her govern
ment had drawn up in concert -iaitl.
Sir Edward Grey. Austria who, 01.
July 28 refused .had two clays later
agreed to discuss matters witi:
Russia. Everything turned 01:
Germany Conversation at St Pel
ersburg and Vienna were proceec
ing as the British Ambassador as
the latter capital has recorded
when they were cut short by Ger
many's intervention. On July as
she sent an ultimatum to Russia.
In the early morning of Au usz
1 (3,30 a. m.), the King of England
and his ministers made a last at
tempt to secure peace. The King
telegraphed a personal message to
the Czar. In this the King first
set the text of a communicatior-
I from the German governmefit, Th:,
. Czar had previously requestedthc.
' German Emperor to mediate be
tween Russia and Austria Ann.
had "given most categorical assuz
emcee to the Emperor William tha,
Russian troops would not move sc,
long as mediation negotiations eel
tinned The Uermanct ernmar
g.
in its communication stated that
the Emperor was des' 'ous to m di
ate andcomplainedthat such mei;
ation was frustrated by the Ra.
signent mobilization4nt4Bayt. g rg
}fhatKin11e Ira¢Geo"nioa t
anxious not to iuiss an, possibilit;
of avoiding the terrible calamity
which threatens the whole world"
he appealed to the Czar to re
move any misapprehension whiei
might have occurred; heprofferec..
hie ,good offices "to assist in re•
opening the interrupted conver •
sations between the Powers con-
cerned." The Czar replied on the
same day, "I would gladly have
accepted your proposals had not
the German ambassador this after
noon presented a note to my gov-
ernment declaring war."
"In this solemn hour I wish,"
said the Czar, "to assure you one,
more that I have done all in niy
power to avert war." This assur
ante is borne out by the diplopia
tic cornea and
p epee. It shows,' ac:
the Russian foreign minister sate+
that "No suggestion held out t,r
Min had been refused. He Thad ac •
cepted a proposal for a eonferenc,'
of four, for mediation by Grea
Britain and Italy, for direct con
versation between Austria (and
Russia; but Germany and Austria-
Hungary had either rendered these,
attempts for pa, t e ineffective
evasive replies or had ;refused
lthem altogether."
If war were prevented," the Rus-
sian foreign secretary had said
just before the German ultimatum
was received, "it would be largeiy
due to the British Government.'
The foregoing resume shows how '
persistently, Sir Edward Grey had
worked for peace. What he de
liberately abstained from doing,.
no less than what he did, wa••
governed by a desire for peace.
At an early stage in the negotia-
tions, the British government. was
urged both by France and by Rue-
sia to make an immediate declara-
tion of complete solidarity witi
them (July 24). The president of
the French republic repeated tin
request `very strongl;
on July 30. Sir Edward Grey
thought that he was more liken,
to be useful as peace -maker i
this country maintained as long a.
possible an attitude of detach
went. Moreover, the Governme,nr
had no desire to interi'ene un 1
less the honor and interests r:
the country, made it ureal oidabl
At the same time intimations we',
given that it should not be assure
ed that tinder all conceivable circ -
1 eulnetanees England would stain'
aside,
The offisial documents thus she
how unremitting were the effort,
made by Sir Edward Grev to plain
tain the peace of Europe and U:•
whom those efforts were Trus
trated.
They show also how slow tee
British government was to comh11
Britain to any share in the 11 That she ultimatelybecame invol
ed was due to causes which h:ir
nothing to do with the Balkans.
Continued on Page 1