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THE GREAT WAR AND HOW IT AROSE







1915

Parliamentary Recruiting Committee
12, Downing Street, London, S.W.




CONTENTS.


                                                                   PAGE.

  Serbia's Position                                                    3

  Russia's Position                                                    6

  Germany's Position                                                   6

  Italy's Position                                                     8

  Germany's Selected Moment                                            8

  Peace Thwarted by Germany                                           10

      I. Attempt to Extend Time-Limit of Austro-Hungarian
         Ultimatum                                                    11
     II. Question of Delay of Hostilities between Austria-Hungary
         and Serbia                                                   11
    III. Suggested Mediation by the Four Powers                       12
     IV. Germany Asked to State Form of Mediation between
         Russia and Austria-Hungary                                   13
      V. Russia Suggests Direct Negotiations with Austria-Hungary     14
     VI. Russia's Final Attempt at Peace                              15

  German Militarism Wins                                              17

  How France Came In                                                  19

  How Great Britain Came In                                           19

  War with Austria                                                    22

  Japan's Ultimatum to Germany                                        22

  Allies' Declaration of Common Policy                                23

  Turkey Joins Germany                                                24

  More German Intrigues                                               26
    The Near East                                                     26
    The Far East                                                      27
    West Africa                                                       28
    South Africa                                                      28

  How the Germans Make War                                            29

  Germany's Attempted Bribery                                         36


  APPENDIXES.

  A. Germany's Knowledge of Contents of Austro-Hungarian
     Ultimatum                                                        40

  B. How Germany Misled Austria-Hungary                               46

  C. Some German Atrocities in Belgium                                48

  D. Germany's Employment of Poisonous Gas                            52

  E. Efforts of German Ministers of State to lay Blame on
     England                                                          52

  F. List of Parliamentary Publications respecting the War            55




THE GREAT WAR.




SERBIA'S POSITION.


On June 28, 1914, the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand and the Archduchess
were assassinated on Austrian territory at Serajevo by two Austrian
subjects, both Bosniaks. On a former occasion one of these assassins had
been in Serbia and the "Serbian authorities, considering him suspect and
dangerous, had desired to expel him, but on applying to the Austrian
authorities, found that the latter protected him, and said that he was
an innocent and harmless individual."[1] After a "magisterial"
investigation, the Austro-Hungarian Government formally fixed upon the
Serbians the guilt both of assisting the assassins and of continually
conspiring against the integrity of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and on
July 23, 1914, sent an ultimatum to Serbia of which the following were
the chief terms[2]:--

     "The Royal Serbian Government shall publish on the front page of
     their 'Official Journal' of the 13-26 July the following
     declaration:--

     "'The Royal Government of Serbia condemn the propaganda directed
     against Austria-Hungary--_i.e._, the general tendency of which the
     final aim is to detach from the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy
     territories belonging to it, and they sincerely deplore the fatal
     consequences of these criminal proceedings.

     "'The Royal Government regret that Serbian officers and
     functionaries participated in the above-mentioned propaganda...."

     "The Royal Serbian Government further undertake:

     "To suppress any publication which incites to hatred and contempt
     of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and the general tendency of which
     is directed against its territorial integrity;...

     "To eliminate without delay from public instruction in Serbia, both
     as regards the teaching body and also as regards the methods of
     instruction, everything that serves, or might serve, to foment the
     propaganda against Austria-Hungary;

     "To remove from the military service, and from the administration
     in general, all officers and functionaries guilty of propaganda
     against the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy whose names and deeds the
     Austro-Hungarian Government reserve to themselves the right of
     communicating to the Royal Government;

     "To accept the collaboration in Serbia of representatives of the
     Austro-Hungarian Government for the suppression of the subversive
     movement directed against the territorial integrity of the
     Monarchy;

     "To take judicial proceedings against accessories to the plot of
     the 28th June who are on Serbian territory; delegates of the
     Austro-Hungarian Government will take part in the investigation
     relating thereto."

In effect Austria wished to force Serbia (_a_) to admit a guilt which
was not hers; (_b_) to condemn officers in her army without trial at
Austria's direction[3]; (_c_) to allow Austrian delegates to dispense
such justice in Serbian Courts as they might think fit. In other words,
Serbia was to lose her independence as a Sovereign State. And to all
these claims Austria demanded an acceptance within 48 hours--until 6
p.m. on July 25, 1914. Yet, in spite of this, Serbia, within the
specified time, sent her reply[4], which amounted to an acceptance of
Austria's demands, subject, on certain points, to the delays necessary
for passing new laws and amending her Constitution, and subject to an
explanation by Austria-Hungary of her precise wishes with regard to the
participation of Austro-Hungarian officials in Serbian judicial
proceedings. The reply went far beyond anything which any Power--Germany
not excepted--had ever thought probable. But the same day the British
Ambassador at Vienna reported that the tone of the Austrian press left
the impression that a settlement was not desired, and he later reported
that the impression left on his mind was that the Austrian note was so
drawn up as to make war inevitable. In spite of the conciliatory nature
of Serbia