duty to defend herself against Servian intrigues, which threaten to undermine her existence.  The Kaiser called the attention of the Czar to their common monarchical interests with regard to the Serajevo outrage, and asked him personally to support him in order to establish harmony between Vienna and St. Petersburg.

At about the same hour in which this telegram was sent the Czar asked the Kaiser for his support and requested him to advise Vienna to be moderate in its demands.  The Kaiser assumed the role of mediator.  Hardly had he begun his activity when Russia mobilized its entire fighting force against Austria-Hungary.  Austria-Hungary, however, had mobilized only those army corps which were directed against Servia; in the north there were only two army corps and these far from the Russian border.

The Kaiser immediately called the attention of the Czar to the fact that this mobilization of his forces against Austria-Hungary made his position as mediator difficult or absolutely impossible.  In spite of this we continued our mediatorial activities in Vienna, going to the utmost limits of consistency with the terms of our federal treaty. ["Very true!  Hear, hear!”] During this time Russia again spontaneously assured us that her military preparations were not directed against us. ["Hear, hear, fie!”]

The 31st of July arrived.  In Vienna the decision was to be made.  In the meantime we had succeeded with our negotiations to reaching a point where Vienna resumed intercourse with St. Petersburg, which for some time had been discontinued, but before the final decision was reached in Vienna the news arrived that Russia had mobilized its entire fighting force, which meant also against us. ["Hear, hear!”]

Russia’s Mobilization.

The Russian Government, which from repeated admonitions knew what mobilizing on our borders meant, did not notify us of this mobilization and gave us absolutely no explanation. ["Hear! hear!”] Not until the afternoon of July 31 did the Kaiser receive a message from the Czar in which he assured him that the attitude of his army was not hostile toward us. ["Hear! hear!” and laughter.]

However, the mobilization against us on the Russian border was on the night of July 31 already in full progress.  While we, at the request of Russia, were mediating in Vienna, the Russian Army appeared on our long, almost entirely open border.  France, although not yet mobilizing, was making preparations for war.  And we, up to this point, had intentionally not then called a single soldier of the reserve, for the sake of European peace. ["Bravo!”]

Should we continue to wait with patience until the powers by which we are surrounded choose the moment for attack? ["No!”] To expose Germany to this danger would have been criminal! [Stormy, concerted, prolonged “Very true and bravo!”—­also from the Social Democrats.] Therefore, on July