The Evidence in the Case A Discussion of the Moral Responsibility for the War of 1914, as Disclosed by the Diplomatic Records of England, Germany, Russia

CHAPTER VI

Chapter 7123 wordsPublic domain

THE PEACE PARLEYS

Possibility of peace not embarrassed by popular clamor--Difficulties of peaceful solution not insuperable--Policy of Germany and Austria--Russia's and England's request for time--Germany's refusal to coöperate--Germany's and Austria's excuses for refusal to give extension of time--Berchtold's absence from Vienna--Austria's alleged disclaimer of territorial expansion--Sazonof's conference with English and French Ambassadors--Their conciliatory counsel to Servia--Servia's pacific reply to ultimatum--Austria, without considering Servian reply, declares war--England proposes suspension of hostilities for peace parleys--Germany refuses--Its specious reasons--Germany's untenable position as to localization of conflict--England's proposal for a conference--Germany's refusal--Austria declines all intervention, refusing to discuss Servian note--Germany supports her with a quibble as to name of conference--Russia proposes further discussion on basis of Servian note--Russia then again proposes European conference--Austria and Germany decline 61