powers a delay entirely insufficient to undertake any useful steps
whatever for the straightening out of the complications that have
arisen," and added:

"To prevent the incalculable consequences, equally disastrous
for all the powers, which can follow the method of action of
the Austro-Hungarian Government, it seems indispensable to us
that, above all, the delay given to Servia to reply should be
extended."

Sazonof further suggested that time should be given for the powers to
examine the results of the inquiry that the Austro-Hungarian Government
had made in the matter of the Serajevo assassination, and stated that if
the powers were convinced

"of the well-groundedness of certain of the Austrian demands
they would find themselves in a position to send to the
Servian Government consequential advice."

He justly observes that

"a refusal to extend the terms of the ultimatum ... would be
in contradiction with the very bases of international
relations."

[Russian "Orange Paper," No. 4.]

Could any court question the justice of this contention? The peace of
the world was at stake. Time only was asked to see what could be done to
preserve that peace and satisfy Austria's grievances to the uttermost