GENESIS OF THE WAR
THE LICHNOWSKY REVELATIONS BERLIN'S PERFIDIOUS POLICY INTENSE ANGER AROUSED IN GERMANY London, March 29. 'A further instalment of Prince Lichnowsky's revelations has been published in "The Times." Prince Lichnowsky describes" a decisive conversation at Potsdam on August (? July) 5, 1914, in which all agreed that '.here would be no harm if war with Russia resulted. He was instructed to induce the English Press to bo friendly if Austria gave Serbia a death-blow. .Prince"Lichnowsky)'in reply, warned Germany against.the project, describing it as adventurous and dangerous. Herr von Jagow, the Foreign Minister, replied that Russia was not ready and would draw back. Princo Lichnowsky emphasises that if Russia, and England had wanted war in order to attack Germany, a hint to Belgrade would have been sufficient. Sir Edward Grey and Prince Lichnowsky examined the Serbian reply to the Austrian ultimatum, aud Sir Edward I Grey drew attention to the conciliatory attitude of the Belgrade Government. Princo Lichnowsky states that it would have been easy to find an acceptable solution in a couple of sittings, as the acceptance of the Britisli proposal would have relieved the tension, and further would have improved AngloGerman relations thereafter. Prince Lichuowsky urgently recommended the British proposal, saying that if it was not adopted a world war would be imminent, , in which Germany had everything to loso and nothing to gain. He adds: "1 was then told to work for the localisation of the conflict, but we pressed for <>war. When Germany had refused the British proposal, Sir Edward Grey invited a coun-ter-proposal, but we insisted. I could get no other answer from Berlin. There' were urgent appeals for a definite declaration, by M. Sazonoff, Russian ■Foreign. Minister, and later on positively humble: telegrams from the Tsar; repeated proposals from Sir Edward Grey; warnings from the Italian Foreign Minister, and my urgent advice. But it was all of no use, for Berlin continued to insist that Serbia must be massacred."
Prince Lichnowsky, on leaving Britain, interviewed- Sir Edward Grey, who emphasised his 'readiness to mediate,, saying: "We do not want to crush Germany.' , Prince Lichnowsky says: "I was treated liko a departing monarch. Thus my London mission ended, wrecked riot by the perfidy of the British, but by_ the perfidy ot our policy." Prince Lichnowsky describes Mr. Asquith as a pacifist like Sir Edward Grey, and says that when Mr. Asquith made his final effort to avoid war. on August 2, he was completely broken, although calm. Tears ran down his face. '
Prince Lichnowsky's revelations are Blowly leaking out in Germany, and have aroused the most intense anger, coupled with anxiety as to their effect on neutral opinion." '■' The newspaper. ■•• "Germania" announces that Prince Lichnowsky will be tried for violation of official secrets.— Reuter.
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 164, 1 April 1918, Page 6
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460GENESIS OF THE WAR Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 164, 1 April 1918, Page 6
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