Sazonof's conversation with
the British Ambassador shows that Russia had decided from the beginning
to bring about the war, unless Austria would subject itself to Russia's
dictation.
Now, Russia was not alone concerned about Servia, but from its viewpoint
Austria-Hungary must not maintain the preponderant position in the
Balkans.
Sure of French help, Russia was determined to work against this. The
reports of the British representative do not suggest with a word that
Germany was responsible for the war; on the contrary, Sir Buchanan
again, on his own account, warned the Russian Government to keep aloof
from military measures, in his conversation with M. Sazonof on July 27,
although the "White Paper" does not show that he had received any
instructions by Sir Edward Grey.
His Excellency must not, if our efforts were to be successful, do
anything to precipitate a conflict. In these circumstances I
trusted that the Russian Government would defer the mobilization
ukase for as long as possible, and that troops would not be allowed
to cross the frontier even when it was issued.--(British "White
Paper," No, 44.)
Just as its own Ambassador in Petersburg pointed out to the British
Government the dangers of Russian mobilization, England did not lack
German warnings.
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