Austrian circles impression prevails that in any event we would
stand aside. His Excellency deplored the effect that such an
impression must produce. This impression ought, as I have pointed
out, to be dispelled by the orders we have given to the first fleet
which is concentrated, as it happens, at Portland not to disperse
for manoeuvre leave. But I explained to the Russian Ambassador that
my reference to it must not be taken to mean that anything more
than diplomatic action was promised.--(British "White Paper" No.
47.)

For Russia this order to the fleet meant very much more than a
diplomatic action. Sazonof saw that the wind in London was turning in
his favor and he made use of it. Among themselves the Russian
diplomatists seem to have for a long time been clear and open in their
discussion of their real object. You find among the documents of the
Russian "Orange Book" the following telegram of Sazonof of July 25 to
the Russian Ambassador in London:

In case of a new aggravation of the situation, possibly provoking
on the part of the great powers' united action, [des actions
conformes,] we count that England will not delay placing herself
clearly on the side of Russia and France, with the view to
maintaining the equilibrium of Europe, in favor of which she has
constantly intervened in the past, and which would without doubt be
compromised in the case of the triumph of Austria.--(Russian
"Orange Paper" No. 17.)

There is no mention of Servia here, but Austria should not triumph.
Russia's real intention, of course, was not placed so nakedly before the
British Secretary of State, hence to him the appearance was maintained