The murder of the Crown Prince of Austria was an incident furnishing
Germany and Austria opportunity to carry out their long-conceived
programme for the extension of their influence through the growing
state of Servia.

A treaty had been arranged between Greece and Turkey, and was to have
been signed in July, which would have settled many things in respect to
Turkey and the Balkan states. Roumania and Servia were in agreement
concerning this great measure for peace in southeastern Europe.

When all was ready for the final conference and the signatures, Austria
intervened and announced her opposition. Then suddenly followed the
bombshell of the ultimatum to Servia, timed at the precise moment to
stop the signing of this Turkish treaty.

Austrian officials admitted privately as follows, and I have it
directly from parties to the negotiations:--

"We are satisfied that Servia would punish the murderers of Prince
Ferdinand if we so requested. We are satisfied she would apologize to
Austria if we requested it. But our aims go beyond. We demand that
instead of the proposed Turkish treaty the Balkan states shall come
into union with Turkey under the influence of Austria. To accomplish
this we must accept no apology, but must punish Servia. We are
satisfied that Russia is in no financial or military position to
interfere."

Germany with its enormous spy system had secured copies of the
confidential state papers of the Czar and transmitted them to Vienna.
In these were warnings, statistics, and compilations showing all the