The issues stated--Proximate and underlying causes--A war of diplomats--The masses not parties to the war--The official defenses--The English _White Paper_--The German _White Paper_--The Russian _Orange Paper_--The Belgian _Gray Paper_--Austria and Italy still silent--Obligation of these nations to disclose facts 18 CHAPTER III THE SUPPRESSED EVIDENCE No apparent suppression by England, Russia, and Belgium--Suppression by Germany of vital documents--Suppression by Austria of entire record--Significance of such suppression 27 CHAPTER IV GERMANY'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE AUSTRIAN ULTIMATUM Silence which preceded ultimatum--Europe's ignorance of impending developments--Duty to civilization--Germany's prior knowledge of ultimatum--Its disclaimer to Russia, France, and England of any responsibility--Contradictory admission in its official defense--Further confirmation in Germany's simultaneous threat to the Powers--Further confirmation in its confidential notice to States of Germany to prepare for eventualities 31 CHAPTER V THE AUSTRIAN ULTIMATUM TO SERVIA Extreme brutality of ultimatum--Limited time given to Servia and Europe for consideration--Ultimatum and Servia's reply contrasted in parallel columns--Relative size of two nations--Germany's intimations to Servia--Brutality of ultimatum shown by analogy--Disclaimer of intention to take territory valueless 47 CHAPTER VI 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 CHAPTER VII THE ATTITUDE OF FRANCE