England's Similar Treaties with France and Russia 1. England and France. After several years of acute hostility between England and France a treaty was concluded April 8, 1904, by which the conflicting claims of England and France in Egypt and Morocco were satisfied, and all causes of European conflict removed later by the Algeciras conference and other negotiations. Later the interests of Germany were recognized and the Anglo-French agreement became part of the law of Europe. 2. England and Russia. The hostility between England and Russia was acute and of long duration. A convention signed August 31, 1907, settled the differences of the two nations on the continent of Asia. By this convention their respective interests in Persia were definitely settled. Agreements were also made. as to Afghanistan and Thibet. The result of the agreements with France and with Russia was to remove long-existing and dangerous conditions that might easily have caused war. lomatic documents to bear out this idea, and if we take the beliefs of contemporary observers we must come to the opposite idea and conclude that Germany no more than England wanted war. Let us con sider: Did Germany Know the Nature of the Austrian Note to Serbia? I give herewith what the Berlin correspondents of English newspaper and other newspapers said at the time and statements from governments. London Times: Berlin, July 24.-"The severity of the Austro-Hungarian note to Servia has caused surprise here. I understand that the German government was not aware of the details or of the tone of the note, although it had received confidential information as to its 'scope.' The extent of the demands to be made to Servia was, however, left entirely to the discretion of Vienna, and advice was neither asked for nor offered official ly. Far less has Germany encouraged Austria-Hungary to go to extreme lengths. The note has therefore caused surprise, and the Chauvinists, of all people, are indignant There was no motive for war in 1914 on the part of either Germany or England. That England worked ably and whole-heartedly to preserve the peace of Europe is obvious to the most casual student of contemporary historical documents and data. It is claimed by some writers that Germany conspired with Austria to bring about this war, that Germany (Telegraphic.) Foreign Office, was behind Austria in sending the extremely provocative note to Servia and that Germany did not exercise a restraining influence over Austria. There is nothing in the printed dip that Berlin was not asked for advice and was not given full details of the Austrian demands." Sir Edward Grey to Sir H. Rumbold, British Charge d'Affaires at Berlin. July 25, 1914. The German ambassador read me a telegram from the German Foreign office saying that his government had not known beforehand, and had had no more than other powers to do with the stiff terms of the Austrian note to Servia, but once she had launched that note, Austria could not draw back. Die Post (Berlin): Berlin, July 25.-"Every sentence is a blow of the fist in the face of the Servian government. We fully understand and appreciate the deep indignation and the incurable pain which dictated these sentences. But we must still ask ourselves once more: On what does the AustroHungarian government really base these serious accusations?" Daily Telegraph: Berlin, Sunday Night, July 26."It has been suggested that Germany is in part responsible for the contents and tone of the Austrian note. She has even been accused of occasioning or at least inspiring that document. This imputation she absolutely repudiates.' Manchester Guardian: Berlin, Monday, July 27."Clearly, Germany was unaware of the text of the Austrian note before it was presented. I am assured on reliable authority that the government disapproves the excessive sharpness of the tone employed." Westminster Gazette: Berlin, July 29.-The belief expressed in some English newspapers that Germany and Austria planned the crisis with Servia in order to bring on a "preventive war" with the dual alliance is ridiculed. The crisis is directly traced to the Saravejo assassinations, without which Austria would probably have nursed. her other grievances with Servia for years. The "Berliner Tageblatt" statement that "Wilhelmstrasse" saw the ultimatum only "at the last minute" is taken as correct. Did Germany Try to Restrain Austria? All the diplomatic dispatches indicate that Germany endeavored to moderate Austria's position. In my interview with Count Apponyi he said: "So far from pushing AustriaHungary to war, Germany put every pressure on her in order to avoid But for Emperor William's strong, at a given moment, almost comminatory advice, Austria-Hungary would have insisted on the principle that no power, least of all Russia, had any right to step in between her and a neighbor who constantly intrigued against her tranquility and safety. These are well known facts, established by unimpeachable documentary evidence." From the Rheinische-Westphalische Zeitung, July 26. "It is really ridiculous for the people of Vienna and Budapest to imagine that Europe and our whole planet have given them the sacred mandate to avenge the dead arch'duke. "Unluckily, it would be the German army that would be charged with this task. It is scandalous that our government should not have demanded to be minutely informed of the details of the Austrian demarche before it was made. "We ought to declare to-day that we are not obliged to aid Austria in its policy of conquests. We have nothing to gain in a war against Russia." Berlin Correspondence Daily Chronicle: undoubtedly wants Berlin, Monday, July 27.-"There is no doubt that the German government ardently wishes that the conflict may be localized. "Germany peace, but her view of the situation is that Austria cannot now withdraw a step before she has obtained full satisfaction from Servia. Any attempts toward securing peace that leave this point out of the question will be cordially supported by the German empire.' Cologne Gazette: Tuesday, July 28.-"The desire of the western powers to avoid through timely action the extension of the Austrian quarrel with Servia will not only be gladly entertained, but the Berlin cabinet is ready in more than one capital to work through mediation for the maintenance of European peace. One may congratulate oneself that through the initiative of Sir Edward Grey the idea of mediation has been taken up officially and is being only discussed." Daily News: St. Petersburg, Monday, July 27. "The breathing space secured by the friends of peace, headed by England and Germany, has perceptibly relieved the situation." Bethmann-Hollweg to German Am bassador in Vienna: Berlin, July 30, 1914.-"We are indeed ready to fulfill our duty. As an ally we must, however, refuse to be drawn into a world conflagration through Austria-Hungary not respecting our advice. Your excellency will express this to Count Berchtold with all emphasis and great seriousness." Sir Edward Grey to Sir G. Buchanan, British Ambassador at St. Petersburg: Foreign Office, July 30, 1914."German ambassador informs me that German government would endeavor to influence Austria, after taking Belgrade and Servian territory in region of frontier, to promise not to advance farther while powers endeavored to arrange that Servia should give satisfaction sufficient to pacify Austria. I suggested this yesterday as a possible relief to the situation, and if it can be obtained, I would earnestly hope that it might be agreed to suspend further military preparations on all sides." Reuter's Agency: Agency in London circulated on July Thursday, July 30.-"Reuter's 30 the following from a well-informed source: "Despite any idea to the contrary, Germany is doing her best to prevent a European outbreak. Her position must, however, be taken into account. She cannot, as is supposed in some quarters, bring pressure to bear upon her ally to stop all action, but she has been giving, and continues to give, good advice to Vienna. "It would be useless to disguise the fact that the partial mobilization of Russia has made the situation as regards Germany, and particularly Austria, more difficult.”— June 8, 1916. Russia's Mobilization as Recorded by Correspondents From the St. Petersburg Correspondent of the London "Post." "As a matter of fact, Russia took steps for mobilization the moment the Council of Ministers decided last Friday (July 24) that the sovereign status of Serbia must be protected at all costs." The St. Petersburg correspondent of the London "Times" regarding a conference held the evening of July 25: "At the close of the meeting the Czar, speaking of the Austrian note to Serbia, is said to have exclaimed, "We have stood this sort of thing for seven and a half years. This is enough!' Thereupon his majesty authorized the issue of orders for a partial mobilization confined to the fourteen army corps on the Austrian frontier. At the same time an inti mation was given to Germany that orders for the mobilization of the remainder of the Russian army would follow immediately upon mobilization in Germany." Here are the developments in Russia July 24 and 25: From "Le Temps," Paris. "After the meeting of the Council of Ministers it was decided that mobilization orders should be issued immediately for the army corps at Odessa and Kieff. The energetic intervention of the war minister, Gen. Sukhomlinoff, created a great impression." St. Petersburg Correspondent London "Daily News," July 26. "The crisis will become acute later in the week, when the mobilization of the Kieff, Warsaw and Vilna military contingents will be in full swing-which lie directly on the German frontier." The clearest forecast was made by the Paris correspondent of the London "Telegraph" on July 28, as follows: "The one certain thing is that if Austria goes beyond a certain point in her attack upon Serbia, Russia must and will intervene. That means an invasion of Galicia by Russia, with Roumania almost probably attacking next door. That means Germany compelled, not only by treaty but in self-defense, to take up arms for Austria. The first stroke in the defense of Austria by Germany must, of course, be an attack upon France. The German plan is a violent and sudden attack upon France, after which, it being assumed that the attack is overwhelmingly successful, Germany will just be in time to turn round upon Russia, always slow in her mobilization. "Finally, all this means the British fleet making a swift dash to annihilate the German. In short, the conflagration once lit, no one knows where it will stop." The "Daily Chronicle" correspondent at St. Petersburg July 28 said: "Already a rapid mobilization is proceeding in the west and southwest, virtually from the German frontier to the Black Sea."-June 9, 1916. HOW WAS WAR POSSIBLE IF ENGLAND AND GERMANY WERE AGAINST WAR? BY S. S. MCCLURE My interviews with Count Tisza, Count Apponyi and Baron Burian and other Austrian and Hungarian statesmen first made me realize that this was really an Austro-Hungarian-Russian war, when I visited Budapest and Vienna. I was often told that Count Tisza was the real author of the note to Serbia which caued the war. Some 20 would say, "Yes, we caused the war In my interview with Count Tisza and his associates I went right to the heart of the question: "Why did Austria-Hungary send such a peremptory note to Serbia with a forty-eight-hour limit?" "Because," they said, "the intrigues and aims of Serbia threatened the existence of the empire." "But why the forty-eight-hour limit?" "Because we knew Serbia, knew that nothing but such a demand would bring a reply. Without such a time limit no satisfaction could be secured. Twice before we had to mobilize our armies at an expense of $80,000,000 to $100,000,000 each time, putting a heavy burden on our national budget. The situation had become intolerable and dangerous, and finally Serbia had plotted to murder our crown prince." "But did you not know,”. I asked, "that Russia would certainly intervene ?" "It was none of Russia's business. It was a private matter beWhat would tween Serbia and us. America think if Japan intervened in your Mexican trouble ?" "Yes," I said, "let us admit that it was none of Russia's business. Still, did you not know that Russia would make it her business ?" They replied: "We thought the chances of Russia's interfering were about fifty-fifty, but that whatever the consequences we must remove the Serbian menace" I asked if they did not realize that if Russia came in all Europe would be involved. The reply was: "It was none of Europe's business. Europe must interfere at her own risk. Our situation was danBecause gerous and intolerable. Serbia was a small state we had been very patient, but when our crown prince was assassinated we felt we must put an end to the whole Serbian danger." The manner of the Hungarians that I saw was even more convincSome of the ing than their words. officials gave the impression of men To them the under an obsession. Serbian trouble of two years ago was the most terrible thing in the world. Just as the Irish question seemed the most difficult problem in the world to English statesmen, so to Austro-Hungarian statesmen the center of the world was the Austro-Hungarian empire, and the safety of the empire the most important thing in the world. (I have been in many countries. I know of no nation whose views about itself differ much from this.) Count Tisza is one of the most powerful and forceful statesmen in Europe. He is a great sportsman, noted tennis player. He has fought thirty duels, one when he was thirty premier of Hungary. When I was told by well-informed people in Budapest and Vienna that he was the real author or at least the inspiration of the note to Serbia it seemed probable that he was. Count Apponyi is one of the most noted men of Hungary. I was received by him in his library. On the wall was a portrait of Roosevelt. "You see," he said, "in spite of I Mr. Roosevelt's being against us, still keep his portrait." Afterward Count Apponyi visited me at the hotel. The important part of my interview with him was |