Excellency have sent off my telegram last night, it must have crossed this one.[1]
"We shall now see the effect of mine. The expression 'discreditable war' (unwürdiger Krieg.—K.) does not argue a feeling that monarchs must support one another on the part of the Tsar, but a pan-Slav view, which means fear of a capitis diminutio in the Balkans in case of Austrian successes. The general effect of these could be calmly awaited before anything is done. Later, there will still be plenty of time to negotiate, and, if necessary, to mobilize, to do which Russia has not the slightest cause at present. Instead of summoning us to stop the Allies, His Majesty ought to apply to the Emperor Francis Joseph and negotiate with him, in order to learn His Majesty's views.
"Ought not copies of both telegrams to be sent to London for the information of H.M. the King?
"The 'Sozi'[2] are making anti-militarist demonstrations in the streets. This must not be tolerated, at the present moment least of all.
"In the case of a repetition, I shall proclaim a state of siege and have the leaders, all and sundry, tutti quanti, interned. Instruct Loebell and Jagow to this effect. We can no longer tolerate Soz. propaganda at the present juncture!"
- ↑ This was, in fact, the case. The Tsar's telegram reached Berlin on July 29th at 1 a.m.; the Kaiser's telegram to the Tsar was prepared, according to a draft of Stumm's, at 10.45 p.m. on the 28th, and handed in at the Head Telegraph Office, Berlin, at 1.45 a.m. It went off, therefore, after the Tsar's telegram was already in Berlin ; the latter is not an answer to the Kaiser's telegram, as one would have to assume according to the German White Book, William's telegram being there dated the 28th at 10.45 p.m., and the Tsar's the 29th at 1p.m.—K.
- ↑ Common German abbreviation for Socialists.
