, to all
our faithful subjects make known that Russia, related by faith and
blood to the Slav peoples and faithful to her historical
traditions, has never regarded their fates with indifference.
But the fraternal sentiments of the Russian people for the Slavs
have been awakened with perfect unanimity and extraordinary force
in these last few days, when Austria-Hungary knowingly addressed to
Servia claims inacceptable for an independent State.
Having paid no attention to the pacific and conciliatory reply of
the Servian Government and having rejected the benevolent
intervention of Russia, Austria-Hungary made haste to proceed to an
armed attack, and began to bombard Belgrade, an open place.
Forced by the situation thus created to take necessary measures of
precaution, we ordered the army and the navy put on a war footing,
at the same time using every endeavor to obtain a peaceful
solution. Pourparlers were begun amid friendly relations with
Germany and her ally, Austria, for the blood and the property of
our subjects were dear to us.
Contrary to our hopes in our good neighborly relations of long
date, and disregarding our assurances that the mobilization
measures taken were in pursuance of no object hostile to her,
Germany demanded their immediate cessation.
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