West.

We wished to continue to live in peaceful industry, and, like an
unexpressed vow, there was passed on from Kaiser to the youngest
soldier: "Only in defense of a righteous cause shall our sword be
drawn." (Hearty applause.) The day when we must draw it has
appeared, contrary to our desire, contrary to our honest efforts to
avoid it. Russia has applied the firebrand to the house. We find
ourselves in a forced war with Russia and France.

Gentlemen, a series of documents, composed in the rush of events,
is in your hands. Allow me to place before you the facts which
characterize our attitude.

From the very beginning of the Austrian conflict we strove and
worked toward the end that this trouble remain confined to
Austria-Hungary and Servia. All Cabinets, especially that of
England, take the same stand; only Russia declares that she must
have a word in the decision of this conflict. Therewith the danger
of European entanglements arises. As soon as the first authentic
reports of the military preparations in Russia reached us we
declared in a friendly but emphatic manner in St. Petersburg that
war measures and military preparations would force us also to
prepare, and that mobilization is closely akin to war.

Russia asserts in what is an apparently friendly manner that she is
not mobilizing against us. In the meantime England tries to mediate
between Vienna and St. Petersburg, in which she is warmly supported
by us. On July 28 the Kaiser telegraphed the Czar, asking him to
consider that Austria-Hungary has the right and that it is her duty