2, 1914.
I hear with astonishment that in France and elsewhere in the world
it is imagined that Germany wants to carry on an aggressive war,
and that she had with this aim brought about the present situation.
It is said that the Emperor was of the opinion that the moment had
come to have a final reckoning with his enemies; but what a
terrible error that is! Whoever knows the Emperor as I do, whoever
knows how very seriously he takes the responsibility of the crown,
how his moral ideas are rooted in true religious feeling, must be
astonished that any one could attribute such motives to him.
He has not wanted the war; it has been forced upon him by the might
of the circumstances. He has worked unswervingly to keep the peace,
and has together with England thrown his whole influence into the
scales to find a peaceful solution, in order to save his people
from the horrors of war. But everything has been wrecked upon the
attitude of Russia, which in the middle of negotiations which
offered good outlook of success mobilized her forces, wherewith she
proved that she did not mean in earnest what her assurances of
peaceful intentions indicated.
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