Government the way through which alone war may yet be averted.
Although I asked for a reply by today noon, no telegram from
my Ambassador has reached me with the reply of your
Government. I therefore have been forced to mobilize my army.
An immediate, clear, and unmistakable reply of your Government
is the sole way to avoid endless misery. Until I receive this
reply I am unable, to my great grief, to enter upon the
subject of your telegram. I must ask most earnestly that you,
without delay, order your troops to commit, under no
circumstances, the slightest violation of our frontiers."

This impetuous step of Germany to compel its great neighbor to desist
from military preparations to defend itself came most inopportunely, for
on Aug. 1 the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador _for the first time_ declared
to the Russian Government its willingness to discuss the terms of the
Austrian ultimatum to Servia, and it was then suggested that the form of
the ultimatum and the questions arising thereon should be discussed in
London. (Dispatch from British Ambassador at Vienna to Sir Edward Grey,
dated Sept. 1, 1914.) Sir Edward Grey at once advised the English
Ambassador in Berlin of the fact, and urged that it was still possible
to maintain peace

"if only a little respite in time can be gained before any
great power begins war,"

[English "White Paper," No. 131.]

but the Kaiser, having issued the arrogant ultimatum to Russia to
demobilize in twelve hours, had gone too far for retreat, and, spurred
on by the arrogant Potsdam military party, he "let slip the dogs of