Hungary, which England believes will pay more consideration to Germany's mediation, then the above-mentioned situation, which we must absolutely avoid, would arise."
One sees that the Count was certainly not a brilliant stylist. But as regards the matter of the communication, Bethmann-Hollweg expressed himself on the same day to just the same substantial effect, although not from precisely the same standpoint. In a telegram to Tschirschky he announces Grey's proposals, and continues:
"Having already rejected England's proposal for a conference, we cannot possibly turn down à limine this English suggestion too. If we reject every mediatory movement, the whole world will hold us responsible for the conflagration, and we shall be represented as the true instigators of the war. This would also have the effect of making impossible our position in the country, where we must appear in the light of having the war forced on us. Our position is all the more difficult as Serbia has apparently yielded to so great an extent. We cannot, therefore, refuse the role of mediator, and must submit the English proposal to the consideration of the Vienna Cabinet, more especially as London and Paris continue to make their influence felt in Petersburg. Will you obtain Count Berchtold's views on the English suggestion and also on Herr Sasonow's desire to negotiate direct with Vienna."
This strange mediator saw in the yielding of the Serbs one of the difficulties of the situation—a difficulty
