You find among the documents of the
Russian "Orange Book" the following telegram of Sazonof of July 25 to
the Russian Ambassador in London:
In case of a new aggravation of the situation, possibly provoking
on the part of the great powers' united action, [des actions
conformes,] we count that England will not delay placing herself
clearly on the side of Russia and France, with the view to
maintaining the equilibrium of Europe, in favor of which she has
constantly intervened in the past, and which would without doubt be
compromised in the case of the triumph of Austria.--(Russian
"Orange Paper" No. 17.)
There is no mention of Servia here, but Austria should not triumph.
Russia's real intention, of course, was not placed so nakedly before the
British Secretary of State, hence to him the appearance was maintained
that the little State of the Sawe was the only consideration, although
the Russian Army was already being mobilized with all energy.
On the 28th he wires to the Russian Ambassador, Count Benckendorff, to
London to inform the British Government:
It seems to me that England is in a better position than any other
power to make another attempt at Berlin to induce the German
Government to take the necessary action.
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