What Germany Thinks | Page 7

they had found a lever with
which to break down the opposition by diplomacy. If that failed an
immediate appeal to the sword should follow. The diplomatic
forty-eight hours' _coup-de-main_ failed, and the programme contained
no other item except war. In a few words this means that the dastardly
crime of Princip and his fellow conspirators was exploited by Germany,
acting through Austria, to disturb the European balance of power under
the guise of a just vengeance.
Sir Edward Grey formulated and circulated his conference proposal on
the next day, July 26th. Some persons to whom I spoke at the time
welcomed the idea; they belonged principally to the lower middle
classes. One well-known Pan-Germanist (Dr. Beckmann, professor of
history in Erlangen University) said that the proposal was an admission
of a diplomatic defeat and a sign that the Entente Powers were afraid to
draw the sword. If the three Powers in question were prepared to pocket
this smack in the face, then Germany would be satisfied, because such
a defeat would mean that the Triple Entente would never be able to
work together again.
It is interesting to compare with this opinion those of two leading
newspapers:
(1.) "We understand that the German Government is not absolutely
hostile to England's endeavours to bring about a mediation between the
contending Powers by those not directly interested in the conflict. But
the German Government makes its participation in the mediation
dependent upon whether Austria-Hungary would accept this procedure,
and in which respect Austria wishes the mediation to follow. The
German Government cannot support any action which Austria-Hungary
does not desire, as that would mean exercising pressure.

"From Sir Edward Grey's declaration in the House of Commons it is
clear that he was not thinking of mediation between Austria and Serbia,
but between Austria and Russia. This shade of meaning requires
attention. We think that any attempt at mediation between Austria and
Serbia would have no prospect of success, because in Vienna they do
not seem inclined to accept such an action. Diplomatic relations have
not been broken off; the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs confers
still with the Austrian Ambassador, and it is not easy to see why the
other Powers Should not further this discussion in a mediative sense.
"But then Sir Edward Grey gave his idea more exact form and proposed
a conference between the German, Italian and French ambassadors and
himself. This conference of ambassadors is to seek a basis for an
agreement and then submit the result to the cabinets in Vienna and St.
Petersburg. In his yesterday's speech he emphasized the point that no
hostilities may take place till the conference has concluded its work.
"Here, of course, is the difficulty which mars his plan, for it is
questionable whether Austria will consent to a postponement of her
military operations. Negotiations concerning Sir Edward Grey's
proposal are at present occupying the cabinets, and it is to be hoped that
a means will be found to make it acceptable to the Powers most
interested in the conflict."[4]
[Footnote 4: Berliner Tagtblatt, July 28th.]
(2.) "Germany not only cherishes, in a platonic manner, the desire of
the Western Powers to prevent the conflict between Austria and Serbia
spreading to the great Powers, but the Berlin cabinet has already been
active in more than one European capital in favour of a mediation
which will secure European peace. In this respect we are pleased
(_Man begrüsst es hier_) that, in consequence of Sir Edward Grey's
initiative, the mediation idea has assumed an official form and is open
for public discussion. There is, however, reason to doubt whether a
conference between four great Powers as an organ for the mediation is
the most suitable way out of the difficulty. Everyone is quite agreed
that the details of the Austro-Serbian conflict, which concerns these
two States alone, cannot be brought before the forum of a conference;

but as regards the removal in good time of any difficulties which may
arise between Austria and Russia, the question must be raised as to
whether the Governments of these States are willing to entrust an
official mediation to a conference of four other great Powers. For the
success of the mediation proposal it would be more practical if the
means to this end were made as simple as possible, and that use was
made of the current diplomatic discussions, in immediate
communication with the capitals of the Empires in question, in order to
carry through a mediatory action to the result desired on all sides.
"In the employment of these means Germany would not fail to support
the Western Powers as she has already done up to the present."[5]
[Footnote 5: _Kölnische Zeitung_, July 28th.]
I have carefully searched the official publications of the Central Powers
(Germany's