Who Wanted War? The Origin of the War According to Diplomatic Documents (1915)

Like all historical events, the present war depends, in some measure, on causes ofaprofound and remote nature. Historians will one day have to investigate the demographic, economic and ethnic conditions owing to which occasions for conflict seemed, for some time, to have been multiplying among the peoples ; how the precarious state of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the development of the Balkan peoples, the clearer self-consciousness to which certain nationalities were awakening, were bound, in a future more or less imminent, to determine the reconstruction of the map of Europe ; finally, how from all this there resulted a feeling of unrest and anxiety which prepared the minds of men for war. CONTENTS PREFACE 3 I. The Austrian Ultimatum and the Servia's Reply. (July 23r d — 25th) The bellicose nature of the Austrian Ultimatum . . . . . 7 The Ultimatum was known to Germany t . . . 10 The Attitude of the Powers. The first attempts at reconciliation repulsed by Germany and Austria i3 The Servian Reply 16 II. The Diplomatic Rupture and the Declaration of War against Servia. (July 25* — 28*) A singular step on the part of Germany 21 Two further attempts at conciliation repulsed by Germany and Austria 22 III. The First ultimatum of Germany to Russia. (July 29* _ 30*) The Triple Entente and Italy continue the negotiations. The evasive attitude of Germany 29 The first ultimatum of Germany to Russia 34 A further pacific proposal on the part of Russia rejected by Germany 38 IV. The Declaration of War against Russia and against France. (July 31s t — Aug. 3rd) The second ultimatum of Germany to Russia 4o A new formula of compromise accepted by Austria, rejected by Germany . 42 The Declaration of war against Russia 40 The Declaration of war against France 49 V. Conclusion. Conclusion 5? ADDITIONAL NOTE 61