Opening the text

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, RussiaBeck, James M. (James Montgomery)

Philosophy

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

Name: 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
Author: Beck, James M. (James Montgomery)

Beck, James M. (James Montgomery)

World War, 1914-1918 -- Causes

I thank You from my heart for Your quick reply. I am sending
     to-night Tatisheff (Russian honorary aide to the Kaiser)
     with instructions. The military measures now taking form
     were decided upon five days ago, and for the reason of
     defense against the preparations of Austria. I hope with all
     my heart that these measures will not influence in any
     manner Your position as mediator which I appraise very
     highly. _We need Your strong pressure upon Austria so that
     an understanding can be arrived at with us._[64]

[Footnote 64: German _White Paper_, No. 23 A.]

Later the Czar again telegraphed the Kaiser:

     I thank You cordially for Your mediation which permits the
     hope that everything may yet end peaceably. It is
     technically impossible to discontinue our military
     preparations which have been made necessary by the Austrian
     mobilization. It is far from us to want war. _As long as the
     negotiations between Austria and Servia continue, my troops
     will undertake no provocative action. I give You my solemn
     word thereon._ I confide with all my faith in the grace of
     God, and I hope for the success of Your mediation in Vienna
     for the welfare of our countries and the peace of Europe.

What more could the Kaiser reasonably ask? Here was an assurance from
the ruler of a great nation, and his royal cousin, that on his "solemn
word" no provocative action would be taken by Russia "as long as
the negotiations between Austria and Servia continue" and this
notwithstanding the fact that Austria had flouted and ignored Russia,
had declared war against Servia and was then endeavoring to subjugate
it quickly by bombarding its capital and invading its territory with
superior forces.

It is true that the Czar did not order demobilization, and apart from
his unquestioned right to prepare for eventualities in the event of
the failure of the peace parleys, the Kaiser himself recognized in a
later telegram that in the case of Germany when mobilization had once
been started it could not be immediately arrested.

Simultaneously King George had telegraphed the Kaiser through Prince
Henry as follows:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

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, RussiaBeck, James M. (James Montgomery)

Philosophy

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

Beck, James M. (James Montgomery)

World War, 1914-1918 -- Causes

I thank You from my heart for Your quick reply. I am sending
     to-night Tatisheff (Russian honorary aide to the Kaiser)
     with instructions. The military measures now taking form
     were decided upon five days ago, and for the reason of
     defense against the preparations of Austria. I hope with all
     my heart that these measures will not influence in any
     manner Your position as mediator which I appraise very
     highly. _We need Your strong pressure upon Austria so that
     an understanding can be arrived at with us._[64]

[Footnote 64: German _White Paper_, No. 23 A.]

Later the Czar again telegraphed the Kaiser:

     I thank You cordially for Your mediation which permits the
     hope that everything may yet end peaceably. It is
     technically impossible to discontinue our military
     preparations which have been made necessary by the Austrian
     mobilization. It is far from us to want war. _As long as the
     negotiations between Austria and Servia continue, my troops
     will undertake no provocative action. I give You my solemn
     word thereon._ I confide with all my faith in the grace of
     God, and I hope for the success of Your mediation in Vienna
     for the welfare of our countries and the peace of Europe.

What more could the Kaiser reasonably ask? Here was an assurance from
the ruler of a great nation, and his royal cousin, that on his "solemn
word" no provocative action would be taken by Russia "as long as
the negotiations between Austria and Servia continue" and this
notwithstanding the fact that Austria had flouted and ignored Russia,
had declared war against Servia and was then endeavoring to subjugate
it quickly by bombarding its capital and invading its territory with
superior forces.

It is true that the Czar did not order demobilization, and apart from
his unquestioned right to prepare for eventualities in the event of
the failure of the peace parleys, the Kaiser himself recognized in a
later telegram that in the case of Germany when mobilization had once
been started it could not be immediately arrested.

Simultaneously King George had telegraphed the Kaiser through Prince
Henry as follows:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

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

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

No reviews yet