Balkans appeared to have been overcome, but then the murder of my
friend, the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, opened up a great abyss. My
high ally, the Emperor and King Francis Joseph, was compelled to
take up arms to defend the security of his empire against dangerous
intrigues from a neighboring State. In the pursuit of her proper
interests the Dual Monarchy has found her path obstructed by the
Russian Empire. Not only our duty as an ally calls us to the side
of Austria-Hungary, but on us falls also the mighty task of
defending the ancient community of culture of the two kingdoms and
our own position in the world against the attack of hostile powers.
With a heavy heart I have been compelled to mobilize my army
against a neighbor with whom it has fought side by side on so many
fields of battle. With sincere sorrow I saw a friendship broken of
which Germany had given faithful proofs. The Imperial Russian
Government, yielding to the pressure of an insatiable nationalism,
has taken sides with a State which by encouraging criminal attacks
has brought on the evil of this war. That France, also, placed
herself on the side of our enemies could not surprise us. Too often
have our efforts to arrive at friendlier relations with the French
Republic come in collision with old hopes and ancient malice.

Honored Sirs: What human insight and power could do to arm a people
against the last extremities has been done with your patriotic
help. The hostility which has been smouldering for a long time in
the East and in the West has now burst into bright flames. The
present situation did not proceed from transient conflicts of
interest or diplomatic entanglements, it is the result of an ill
will which has for many years been active against the strength and
the prosperity of the German Empire. We are not incited by lust for
conquest, we are inspired by the unyielding determination to keep