“We desired nothing but to live on in peaceful toil, content with an unspoken oath that was echoed from the Emperor down to the youngest recruit.  Our sword shall only leap from its sheath in defence of a just cause. (Loud applause.) The day on which we must draw it, has dawned against our will and contrary to our honest endeavours.  Russia has set a burning torch to the house of peace. (Loud cries of ‘Quite true.’) We stand to-day in a forced war with Russia and France.

“Gentlemen, a number of documents, collected in the haste caused by these overwhelming events, have been laid before you.  Permit me to emphasize the facts which characterize our attitude.

“From the moment that the Austrian conflict broke out we have striven and worked to limit the quarrel to Austria-Hungary and Serbia.  All the cabinets, in particular England, accept this view; only Russia has declared that in the settlement of this conflict, she must be allowed to express her wishes.  Therewith the danger of European complications raised its threatening countenance.

“As soon as the first certain news of Russian military preparations reached us, we caused it to be made known in St. Petersburg, in a friendly but unmistakable manner, that warlike measures and military preparations would compel us also to take corresponding steps.  But mobilization is next to war.  Russia assured us in a friendly tone (cries of indignation) that she was making no military preparations against us.

“Meanwhile England tried to mediate between Vienna and St. Petersburg and was warmly supported by us.  On July 28th the Kaiser telegraphed to the Czar begging him to remember that it was Austria-Hungary’s right and duty to stop the Greater-Serbian agitation, as this threatened to undermine Austria’s existence. (Cries of indignation.) The Kaiser pointed out to the Czar the gulf between monarchical interests and the outrage at Serajewo; he begged him to give his personal support to the Kaiser’s endeavour to smooth out the antithesis between Vienna and St. Petersburg.

“Just before this telegram came into the Czar’s hands, the Czar, on his side, begged the Kaiser for his help:  the Kaiser should advise Vienna to be more moderate.  The Kaiser undertook the task of mediator, but the action ordered by him was hardly in motion, when Russia began to mobilize all her forces against Austria-Hungary. (Excited shouts of indignation and disgust.) But Austria had only mobilized certain army corps against Serbia, besides which she had only two corps, and these were far from the Russian frontier.

“At this juncture the Kaiser informed the Czar that the mobilization of his armies against Austria would increase the difficulties of mediation, a task which he had undertaken at the Czar’s express wish, and perhaps render it impossible.  Nevertheless, we continued our mediatory action in Berlin, and indeed in a form which went to the limits permitted by our alliance. (Great excitement.) During this time Russia renewed her assurances that she was taking no military measures against us.