I made it clear to his Excellency that, Russia being
     thoroughly in earnest, a general war could not be averted if
     Servia were attacked by Austria.

Sir George Buchanan would not have said that if he had not been authorized to do so.  He would not have said a “general war could not be averted if Servia were attacked by Austria”; and by “general war” he meant, and we all understand he meant, a war between England, France, and Russia on one side and Germany and Austria on the other.

Servia’s reply to the demand of Austria, which was dated July 25, 1914, not being deemed satisfactory, Austria proceeded to a punitive expedition against Servia, and she repeatedly asserted and assured all the other powers that the expedition was merely punitive and that neither the independence nor the territorial integrity of Servia were at all involved or in any danger.

But all this had no effect upon Russia.  In fact, when Russia was first informed of the Austrian demand (Annex 4, German “White Book”) Minister of Foreign Affairs Sazonof made wild complaints on July 24, 1914, against Austria-Hungary.  What he said most definitely was this: 

     That Russia could not possibly permit the Servian-Austrian
     dispute to be confined to the parties concerned.

This was the keynote of the Russian situation and of the Russian intention.  Russia wanted, of course, to expand its realm as far westward as possible, and it wanted to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the necessary consequences of the dreadful insult and cruelty practiced by Servia on Austria, not only to prevent the punishment of Servia, but also to proceed against Germany, for, as Paper 4 says:  “Russia could not possibly permit the Servian-Austrian dispute to be confined to the parties concerned.”

Who, then, was to blame for not allowing the war to be confined, for not permitting Austria to punish the murderers of her King, but utilizing this opportunity for the purpose of bringing about the great war which Russia and France had carefully prepared long ago?  The great war which should involve all the civilized nations in a conflict, and threaten to extinguish Austria and to carry barbarism into the heart of Europe!  She did not permit the Servian-Austrian dispute to be confined to the parties concerned.

Again, in Paper 56, (English “White Book,”) we find the English Ambassador to Austria writing to Sir Edward Grey on July 27, 1914, the following: 

     If actual war broke out with Servia it would be impossible
     to localize it, for Russia was not prepared to give way
     again.

Again, in Paper 72, (English “White Book,”) dated July 28, 1914, from the English Ambassador in Russia to Sir Edward Grey: 

     I made it clear to his Excellency (German Ambassador) that,
     Russia being thoroughly in earnest, a general war could not
     be averted if Servia were attacked by Austria.