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promising suggestion at mediation had been submitted by England,and at the very moment when Germany 's advice tending to removethe acute danger had produced the desired effect at Vienna , thenthere remains but one possible conclusion:

The persons who were at that moment deciding thefates of Russia hastened to destroy all bridges towards apacific solution and to render war inevitable, onceit had become clear that Austria-Hungary was showinginclination to yield to Germany 's representations infavour of an amicable settlement.

If any further proof were required, it will be found in Russia 'sconduct, subsequent to the presentation of the German ultimatum.

While Germany, having declared the Russian general mobili-sation to be a "casus belli", contented herself for the momentwith proclaiming the "state of danger of war" which is not yetidentical with mobilisation, and while she allowed Russia 12 hours,expiring at noon on the 1 st of August, to retract her militarymeasures, Russia has left the German Ambassador without anyreply, neglecting all attempts to avoid catastrophes by an appealto third Powers, and opened hostilities in the night from the1 st to the 2 nd of August at three different points of the German frontier.

Notwithstanding the French Government does not hesitateto give the following account of events (see Circular note ofFrench Government of l sf of August, Yellow Book No. 120):

Austria-Hungary has at last declared herself readyto discuss with Russia the content of her ultimatumto Servia. Russia is ready to enter into negotiations onthe terms of the English proposal (". ... le Gouverne-«ment russe est prêt à entrer en négociations sur la base"de la proposition anglaise"). Unfortunately these chancesof a peaceful solution are being destroyed by Germany 'sultimatum which demands demobilisation by Russia . Thisultimatum is not justified since Russia has accepted theEnglish proposal implying the cessation of the militarypreparations of all Powers (". . . . puisque la Russie