The Imperial and Royal Government are convinced that in taking this step they will find themselves in full agreement with the sentiments of all civilised nations, who cannot permit regicide to become a weapon that can be employed with impunity in political strife, and the peace of Europe to be continually disturbed by movements emanating from Belgrade.
In support of the above the Imperial and Royal Government hold at the disposal of the British Government a dossier elucidating the Serbian intrigues and the connection between these intrigues and the murder of the 28th June.
An identical communication has been addressed to the Imperial and Royal representatives accredited to the other signatory Powers.
You are authorised to leave a copy of this despatch in the hands of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Vienna, July 24, 1914
Annex
The criminal enquiry opened by the Court of Serajevo against Gavrilo Princip and his accessories in and before the act of assassination committed by them on the 28th June last has up to the present led to the following conclusions:—
1. The plot, having as its object the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdi nand at the time of his visit to Serajevo, was formed at Belgrade by Gavrilo Princip, Nedeljiko Cabrinovic, one Milan Ciganovic, and Trifko Grabez, with the assistance of Commander Voija Tankosic.
2. The six bombs and the four Browning pistols and ammunition with which the guilty parties committed the act were delivered to Princip, Cabrinovic, and Grabez by the man Milan Ciganovic and Commander Voija Tankosic at Belgrade.
3. The bombs are hand-grenades coming from the arms depot of the Serbian army at Kragujevac.
4. In order to ensure the success of the act, Ciganovic taught Princip, Cabrinovic, and Grabez how to use the bombs, and gave lessons in firing Browning pistols to Princip and Grabez in a forest near the shooting ground at Top-schider.
5. To enable Princip, Cabrinovic, and Grabez to cross the frontier of Bosnia-Herzegovina and smuggle in their contraband of arms secretly, a secret system of transport was organised by Ciganovic.
By this arrangement the introduction into Bosnia-Herzegovina of criminals and their arms was effected by the officials controlling the frontiers and Chabac (Rade Popovic) and Loznica, as well as by the customs officer Rudivoj Grbic, of Loznica, with the assistance of various individuals.
APPENDIX 2: THE SERBIAN REPLY
Monday, July 27th
Reply of Serbian Government to Austro-Hungarian Note.—(Communicated by the Serbian Minister, July 27.) (Translation.) (From British documents in Public Record Office.)
The Royal Serbian Government have received the communication of the Imperial and Royal Government of the 10th instant, and are convinced that their reply will remove any misunderstanding which may threaten to impair the good neighbourly relations between the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and the Kingdom of Serbia.
Conscious of the fact that the protests which were made both from the tribune of the national Skuptchina and in the declarations and actions of the responsible representatives of the State—protests which were cut short by the declarations made by the Serbian Government on the 18th March, 1909—have not been renewed on any occasion as regards the great neighbouring Monarchy, and that no attempt had been made since that time, either by the successive Royal Governments or by their organs, to change the political and legal state of affairs created in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Royal Government draw attention to the fact that in this connection the Imperial and Royal Government have made no representation except one concerning a school book, and that on that occasion the Imperial and Royal Government received an entirely satisfactory explanation. Serbia had several times given proofs of her pacific and moderate policy during the Balkan crisis, and it is thanks to Serbia and to the sacrifice that she has made in the exclusive interest of European peace that that peace has been preserved. The Royal Government cannot be held responsible for manifestations of a private character, such as articles in the press and the peaceable work of societies— manifestations which take place in nearly all countries in the ordinary course of events, and which, as a general rule, escape official control. The Royal Government are all the less responsible, in view of the fact that at the time of the solution of a series of questions which arose between Serbia and Austria-Hungary, they gave proof of a great readiness to oblige, and thus succeeded in settling the majority of these questions to the advantage of the two neighbouring countries.
For these reasons the Royal Government have been pained and surprised at the statements, according to which members of the Kingdom of Serbia are supposed to have participated in the preparations for the crime committed at Serajevo; the Royal Government expected to be invited to collaborate in an investigation of all that concerns this crime, and they were ready, in order to prove the entire correctness of their attitude, to take measures against any persons concerning whom representations were made to them. Falling in, therefore, with the desire of the Imperial and Royal Government, they are prepared to hand over for trial any Serbian subject, without regard to his situation or rank, of whose complicity in the crime of Serajevo proofs are forthcoming, and more especially they undertake to cause to be published on the first page of the "Journal officiel," on the date of tie 26th July, the following declaration:—
"The Royal Government of Serbia condemn all propaganda which may be directed against Austria-Hungary, that is to say, all such tendencies as aim at ultimately detaching from the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy territories which form part thereof, and they sincerely deplore the baneful consequences of these criminal movements. The Royal Government regret that, according to the communication from the Imperial and Royal Government, certain Serbian officers and officials should have taken part in the above-mentioned propaganda, and thus compromised the good neighbourly relations to which the Royal Serbian Government was solemnly engaged by the declaration of the 31st March, 1909, which declaration disapproves and repudiates all idea or attempt at interference with the destiny of the inhabitants of any part whatsoever of Austria-Hungary, and they consider it their duty to formally warn the officers, officials and entire population of the kingdom that henceforth they will take the most rigorous steps against all such persons as are guilty of such acts, to prevent and to repress which they will use their utmost endeavour."
This declaration will be brought to the knowledge of the Royal Army in an order of the day, in the name of His Majesty the King, by Flis Royal Highness the Crown Prince Alexander, and will be published in the next official army bulletin.
The Royal Government further undertake:—
To introduce at the first regular convocation of the Skuptchina a provision into the press law providing for the most severe punishment of incitement to hatred or contempt of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, and for taking action against any publication the general tendency of which is directed against the territorial integrity of Austria-Hungary. The Government engage at the approaching revision of the Constitution to cause an amendment to be introduced into article 22 of the Constitution of such a nature that such publication may be confiscated, a proceeding at present impossible under the categorical terms of article 22 of the Constitution.
The Government possess no proof, nor does the note of the Imperial and Royal Government furnish them with any, that the "Narodna Odbrana" and other similar societies have committed up to the present any criminal act of this nature through the proceedings of any of their members. Nevertheless, the Royal Government will accept the demand of the Imperial and Royal Government, and will dissolve the "Narodna Odbrana" Society and every other society which may be directing its efforts against Austria-Hungary.
The Royal Serbian Government undertake to remove without delay from their public educational establishments in Serbia all that serves or could serve to foment propaganda against Austria-Hungary, whenever the Imperial and Royal Government furnish them with facts and proofs of this propaganda.
The Royal Government also agree to remove f
rom military service all such persons as the judicial enquiry may have proved to be guilty of acts directed against the integrity of the territory of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, and they expect the Imperial and Royal Government to communicate to them at a later date the names and the acts of these officers and officials for the purposes of the proceedings which are to be taken against them.
The Royal Government must confess that they do not clearly grasp the meaning or the scope of the demand made by the Imperial and Royal Government that Serbia shall undertake to accept the collaboration of the organs of the Imperial and Royal Government upon their territory, but they declare that they will admit such collaboration as agrees with the principle of international law, with criminal procedure, and with good neighbourly relations.
It goes without saying that the Royal Government consider it their duty to open an enquiry against all such persons as are, or eventually may be, implicated in the plot of the 15th June, and who happen to be within the territory of the kingdom. As regards the participation in this enquiry of Austro-Hungarian agents or authorities appointed for this purpose by the Imperial and Royal Government, the Royal Government cannot accept such an arrangement, as it would be a violation of the Constitution and of the law of criminal procedure; nevertheless, in concrete cases communications as to the results of the investigation in question might be given to the Austro-Hungarian agents.
The Royal Government proceeded, on the very evening of the delivery of this note, to arrest Commander Voislav Tankossitch. As regards Milan Ziganovitch, who is a subject of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and who up to the 15th June was employed (on probation) by the directorate of railways, it has not yet been possible to arrest him.
The Austro-Hungarian Government are requested to be so good as to supply as soon as possible, in the customary form, the presumptive evidence of guilt, as well as the eventual proofs of guilt which have been collected up to the present, at the enquiry at Serajevo for the purposes of the later enquiry.
The Serbian Government will reinforce and extend the measures which have been taken for preventing the illicit traffic of arms and explosives across the frontier. It goes without saying that they will immediately order an enquiry and will severely punish the frontier officials on the Schabatz-Loznitza line who have failed in their duty and allowed the authors of the crime of Serajevo to pass.
The Royal Government will gladly give explanations of the remarks made by their officials whether in Serbia or abroad, in interviews after the crime which according to the statement of the Imperial and Royal Government were hostile toward the Monarchy, as soon as the Imperial and Royal Government have communicated to them the passages in question in these remarks, and as soon as they have shown that the remarks were actually made by the said officials, although the Royal Government will itself take steps to collect evidence and proofs.
The Royal Government will inform the Imperial and Royal Government of the execution of the measures comprised under the above heads, in so far as this has not already been done by the present note, as soon as each measure has been ordered and carried out.
If the Imperial and Royal Government are not satisfied with this reply, the Serbian Government, considering that it is not to the common interest to precipitate the solution of this question, are ready, as always, to accept a pacific understanding, either by referring this question to the decision of the International Tribunal or The Hague, or to the Great Powers which took part in the drawing up of the declaration made by the Serbian Government on the 18th (31st) March, 1909.
Belgrade, July 12 (25), 1914
WHO WAS WHO
Some of Europe's Officials in 1914
ALEXANDER, Crown Prince Serbia: Regent
ASQUITH, Herbert Britain: Prime Minister
BENCKENDORFF, Count Alexander Russia: ambassador in London
BERCHTOLD, Count Leopold von Austria-Hungary: foreign minister
BERTIE, Sir Francis Britain: ambassador in Paris
BETHMANN HOLLWEG,
Theobald von Germany: Imperial Chancellor (prime minister)
BIENVENUE-MARTIN, Jean-Baptiste France: minister of justice
BUCHANAN, Sir George Britain: ambassador in St. Petersburg
CAMBON, Jules France: ambassador in Berlin
CAMBON, Paul France: ambassador in London
CHURCHILL, Winston S. Britain: First Lord of the Admiralty
CONRAD VON HÖTZENDORF, Field
Marshal Franz Austria-Hungary: army chief of staff
CROWE, Sir Eyre Britain: Foreign Office official
FALKENHAYN, General Erich von Germany: minister of war
FLOTOW, Ludwig von Germany: ambassador in Rome
FORGACH, Count Johann Austria-Hungary: foreign ministry official
FRANZ FERDINAND, Archduke Austria-Hungary: heir apparent
FEANZ JOSEPH, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary: monarch
GEORGE v, King-Emperor Britain: monarch
GIESL VON GIESLINGEN, Baron Austria-Hungary: minister in Belgrade
GOSCHEN, Sir Edward Britain: ambassador in Berlin
GREY, Sir Edward Britain: foreign secretary
HARTWIG, Nicolai de Russia: minister in Belgrade
HOYOS, Count Alexander Austria-Hungary: foreign ministry chief of staff
IZVOLSKY, Alexander Russia: ambassador in Paris (ex-foreign minister)
JAGOW, Gottlieb von Germany: foreign minister
LICHNOWSKY, Prince Karl von Germany: ambassador in London
LLOYD GEORGE, David Britain: Chancellor of the Exchequer
LYNCHER, General Moritz von Germany: chief of the Military Cabinet
MACCHIO, Baron Karl von Austria-Hungary: foreign ministry official
MATSCHEKO, Franz von Austria-Hungary: foreign ministry official
MOLTKE, General Helmuth von Germany: army chief of staff
MÜLLER, Admiral Alexander von Germany: naval aide to Kaiser
NICHOLAS II, Czar Russia: monarch
NICOLSON, Sir Arthur Britain: head of Foreign Office
PAÉEOLOGUE, Maurice France: ambassador in St. Petersburg
PASIC, Nicola Serbia: Prime Minister
POINCARÉ, Raymond France: President
POTIOREK, General Oskar Austria-Hungary: governor-general of Bosnia-Herzegovina
POURTALÈS, Count Friedrich von Germany: ambassador in St. Petersburg
RUMBOLD, Sir Horace Britain: embassy official in Berlin
SAN GIULIANO, Marchese Antonio di Italy: foreign minister
SAZONOV, Sergei Russia: foreign minister
SCHEBEKO, Nikolai Russia: ambassador in Vienna
SCHOEN, Wilhelmvon Germany: ambassador in Paris
STUMM, Wilhelm von Germany: foreign ministry official
STÜRGKH, Karl Austria: Prime Minister
SVERBEJEV, Sergei Russia: ambassador in Berlin
SZAPARY VON SZAPAR, Count
Friedrich Austria-Hungary: ambassador in St. Petersburg
SZöGYÉNI -MARICH, Count Ladislaus Austria-Hungary: ambassador in Berlin
TIRPITZ, Admiral Alfred von Germany: naval minister
TISZA, Count Isrván Hungary: Prime Minister
TSCHIRSCHKY, Count Heinrich von Germany: ambassador in Vienna
VIVIANI, René France: Prime Minister and foreign minister
WILHELM II, Kaiser Germany: monarch
ZIMMERMANN, Arthur Germany: deputy foreign minister
NOTES
PROLOGUE
3 United Airlines Flight 826: based on newspaper accounts at the time.
5 mobilized about 65 million troops: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th ed., s.vv. "World Wars"
80 percent of all males: Winter, Parker, and Habeck 2000:2
20 million . . . perished: Herwig 1997:1
21 million were wounded: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th ed., s.vv. "World Wars"
20 million people died in the influenza pandemic: McNeill 1976:255 "the greatest tragedy": quoted in The Economist, Dec. 31, 1999, p. 30.
6 Kennan wrote: Kennan 1979:3
Stern . . . writes: Stern 1999:200
in Winston Churchill's words: Gilbert 1975:355
7 As George Kennan observes: Kennan 1951:51
" 'post–Cold War era' ". . . " 'post–World War I' era": Miller, Lynn-Jones, and Evera 1991:xi
8 "the war was many things": Lafore 1971:17
12 English observer: Lord Bryce, quoted in Fromkin 1995:58
13 "more summery": Zweig 1943:214
"a sensible, law-abiding Englishman": Taylor 1965:1
13 André Siegfried: Braudel 1979:104
John Maynard Keynes: Keynes 1920:11–12
"much of the final quarter": Micklethwait and Wooldridge 2ooo:xviii
"such as I suppose": Kennan 1951:9
14 "Age of Security": Zweig 1943:1
"There is no doubt": Keiger 1983:133
"exceptional calm": Ibid.
CHAPTER 3: NATIONS QUARREL
27 "The Press is awful": McLean 2001:98
CHAPTER 4: COUNTRIES ARM
28 "energy like that of the Cross": Adams 1918:383
29 "The plunge of civilization": Fussell 1975:8
31 Edward Grey claimed: Stevenson 1996:1
"All sides are preparing": Ibid.:203
32 "Slav East": Gunther E. Rothenberg, "Moltke, Schlieffen, and the Doctrine of Strategic Envelopment," Paret 1986:306
35 "never achieved the final, perfected form": Daniel Moran, "Alfred von Schlief-fen," Cowley and Parker 1996:415
37 "the Kaiser's friend . . . a tall dashing military figure": Mombauer 2001:55
"the same lottery": Ibid.:54, 56
"his constant companion": Ibid.:51
CHAPTER 5: ZARATHUSTRA PROPHESIES
40 "Men's minds seem to have been on edge": Taylor 1956:121
41 "No triumph of peace is quite so great": Morris 1979:569 "the basic principle behind all the events": Strachan 2001:68
CHAPTER 6: DIPLOMATS ALIGN
44 "In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries": Morgenthau 1978:248
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