On
July 27th, Grey sent another peace proposal through Prince Lichnowsky asking
for Germany to use its influence on Austria-Hungary to save the peace. Grey
warned Lichnowsky that if Austria continued with its aggression against Serbia,
and Germany with its policy of supporting Austria, then Britain would have no
other choice but to side with France and Russia. The French Foreign Minister
informed the German Ambassador in Paris, von Schoen, that France was anxious to
find a peaceful solution, and was prepared to do his utmost with his influence
in St. Petersburg if Germany should “counsel moderation in Vienna, since Serbia
had fulfilled nearly every point”.
On the
27th, Wilhelm ended his cruise in the North Sea and returned to Germany. Wilhelm
landed at Cuxhaven (Kiel) departing on July 25 at 6 p.m. over the objections of
his chancellor. The next afternoon, the order to disperse the British Fleet and
dismiss British reservists was rescinded, putting the British Navy on a war
footing.
When
Wilhelm arrived at the Potsdam station late in the evening of July 26, he was
met by a pale, agitated, and somewhat fearful Chancellor. Von
Bethmann-Hollweg's apprehension stemmed not from the dangers of the looming
war, but rather from his fear of the Kaiser's wrath when the extent of his
deceptions were revealed. The Kaiser's first words to him were suitably
brusque: "How did it all happen?" Rather than attempt to explain, the
Chancellor offered his resignation by way of apology. Wilhelm refused to accept
it, muttering furiously, "You've made this stew, Now you're going to eat
it!"
Later,
on July 27th, Austria-Hungary started to complete the preparations for war.
That same day, Jagow informed Szogyeny that he was only pretending to take up
the British offers of mediation in order to ensure British neutrality, but had
no intention of stopping the war. Szogyeny reported “in order to avoid a
misunderstanding” that Jagow had promised him that: “the German government
assured Austria in the most binding fashion that it in no way identifies itself
with the proposal [Grey’s mediation offer] which may very shortly be brought to
Your Excellency’s [ Berchtold ] notice by the German government: it is, on the
contrary decidedly opposed to consideration of them, and is only passing
them on out of deference to the British request” (emphasis in the original).
Jagow went on to state he was “absolutely against taking account of the British
wish”, because “the German government point of view was that it was at the
moment of the highest importance to prevent Britain from making common cause
with Russia and France. We must therefore avoid any action which might cut the
line, which has so far worked so well, between Germany and Britain”. Szogyeny
ended his telegram that “If Germany candidly told Sir E Grey that it refused to
communicate England’s peace plan, that objective [ensuring British neutrality
in the coming war] might not be achieved.” Bethmann Hollweg, in a message to
Prince Tschirschky, wrote on the 27th of July: “As we have already rejected one
British proposal for a conference, it is not possible for us to refuse this
suggestion also a limine. If we rejected every attempt at mediation, the
whole world would hold us responsible for the conflagration and represent us as
the real war-mongers. That would also make our position impossible here in
Germany, where we have got to appear as though the war had been forced on us.
Our position is the more difficult because Serbia seems to have given way very
extensively. We cannot therefore reject the role of mediator; we have to pass
on the British proposal to Vienna for consideration, especially since London
and Paris are continuously using their influence on St. Petersburg.” In passing
on Grey’s message, Bethmann Hollweg deleted the last line which read: ”Also,
the whole world here is convinced, and I hear from my colleagues that the key
to the situation lies in Berlin, and that if Berlin seriously wants peace, it
will prevent Vienna from following a foolhardy policy. In his reply to London,
Bethmann Hollweg pretended that: “We have immediately initiated mediation in
Vienna in the sense desired by Sir Edward Grey.” Jagow sent Grey’s offer to
Tschirschky, his ambassador in Vienna, but ordered him to not show it to any
Austrian official in case they might accept it. At the same time, Bethmann
Hollweg sent a distorted account of Grey’s offer to Wilhelm.
The
French Chief of Staff, Joffre, and the French War Minister, Adolphe Messimy,
express their hopes through the military attache in St. Petersburg that should
war break out, the Russians would immediately take the offencive in East
Prussia.
The French issue standby mobilisation orders.
In
London, Grey told a meeting of the British Cabinet that they now had to decide
whether to choose neutrality if war did come, or to enter the conflict. While
the Cabinet was still undecided about what course to choose, Churchill put the
British fleet on alert.
Winston Churchill with the Naval Wing of the
Royal Flying Corps, 1914
His
order read: "Secret. European political situation makes war between Triple
Alliance and Triple Entente by no means impossible. This is not the
Warning Telegram, but be prepared to shadow possible hostile men of war...
Measure is purely precautionary.”
The Austrian Ambassador in Paris, Count Nikolaus Szecsen von Temerin, reported
to Vienna: “The far-reaching compliance of Serbia, which was not regarded as
possible here, has made a strong impression. Our attitude gives rise to the
opinion that we want war at any price.” A Russian diplomat in London criticised
Grey for putting too much faith in Germany as a force for peace. The British
were warned that “War is inevitable and by the fault of England; that if
England had at once declared her solidarity with Russia and France and her
intention to fight if necessary, Germany and Austria would have hesitated.” In
Berlin, Admiral von Muller wrote in his diary that “Germany should remain calm
to allow Russia to put herself in the wrong, but then not to shrink from war if
it were inevitable.” Bethmann Hollweg told Wilhelm that “In all events Russia
must ruthlessly be put in the wrong.”
Information
resourced from the following sites:
http://www.worldwar1.com/tlplot.htm
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