When the ultimatum was made known the entire situation changed at once.  I never had any illusions respecting the Roumanian psychology, and was quite clear in my own mind that the sincere regret at the Archduke’s death was due to egotistical motives and to the fear of being compelled now to abandon the national ambition.  The ultimatum and the danger of war threatening on the horizon completely altered the Roumanian attitude, and it was suddenly recognised that Roumania could achieve its object by other means, not by peace, but by war—­not with, but against the Monarchy.  I would never have believed it possible that such a rapid and total change could have occurred practically within a few hours.  Genuine and simulated indignation at the tone of the ultimatum was the order of the day, and the universal conclusion arrived at was:  L’Autriche est devenue folle. Men and women with whom I had been on a perfectly friendly footing for the last year suddenly became bitter enemies.  Everywhere I noticed a mixture of indignation and growing eagerness to realise at last their heart’s dearest wish.  The feeling in certain circles fluctuated for some days.  Roumanians had a great respect for Germany’s military power, and the year 1870 was still fresh in the memory of many of them.  When England, however, joined the ranks of our adversaries their fears vanished, and from that moment it became obvious to the large majority of the Roumanians that the realisation of their aspirations was merely a question of time and of diplomatic efficiency.  The wave of hatred and lust of conquest that broke over us in the first stage of the war was much stronger than in later stages, because the Roumanians made the mistake we all have committed of reckoning on too short a duration of the war, and therefore imagined the decision to be nearer at hand than it actually was.  After the great German successes in the West, after Goerlitz and the downfall of Serbia, certain tendencies pointing to a policy of delay became noticeable among the Roumanians.  With the exception of Carp and his little group all were more or less ready at the very first to fling themselves upon us.

Like a rock standing in the angry sea of hatred, poor old King Carol was alone with his German sympathies.  I had been instructed to read the ultimatum to him the moment it was sent to Belgrade, and never shall I forget the impression it made on the old King when he heard it.  He, wise old politician that he was, recognised at once the immeasurable possibilities of such a step, and before I had finished reading the document he interrupted me, exclaiming:  “It will be a world war.”  It was long before he could collect himself and begin to devise ways and means by which a peaceful solution might still be found.  I may mention here that a short time previously the Tsar, with Sassonoff, had been in Constanza for a meeting with the Roumanian royal family.  The day after the Tsar left I went to Constanza myself