THE ORIGIN OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 309, 25 September 1919, Page 7

THE ORIGIN OF THE WAR

REVELATIONS IN AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL

RECORDS

BERCHTOLD'S INTRIGUE

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

Vienna, .September 23. Austrian. Red Books which have been issued emphasise the efforts of Viscount (then Sir Edward) Grey to prevent the war and the responsibility of Count Berchtold. The Austrian Ambassador in London telegraphed to Count Berchtold on July 23, 1914, paying n tribute to Sir Edward Grey's friendliness, but sayins that Grey was greatly concerned at the possible consequences of. the ultimatum to Serbia. Berchtold replied on Julv 23 that the shortness of the time granted to Serbia'was due to Austria's long experience of Serbia's procrastination

The Austrian Ambassador at Berlin, in a disnatch on July 27, referring to> the British nroposals for mediation,' Said that the German Government was emphatically opposed to the proposals, and only forwarded them at the British, . request. Berchtold made an urgent report to the Emneror Francis Joseph on July 28,. in which, lie said that the .Entente Powers would possibly still attempt to effect i peaceable settlement of the conflict, unless a definite situation were created'by a declaration of war. He submitted with the report a declaration of war for the Emperor's-signature,. .basiag lis request on reports that Serbian troops had fired on Austro-llungarian soldiers at Teme-iSkubin. After the Emperor signed the declaration Berchtold struck nut the reference in it to the Serbian attack. and wrote to'the Emperor,; saying that he had taken it upgn 'himself to eliminate the sontence, as the reports were unconfirmed.—Reutcr. DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE FROM AUSTRIA. Vienna, September it. The "Arbeiterzeitung" ("Labour Gazette") publishes extracts from a forthcoming official volume on the origin of the war, compiled from State documents, The book shows that, the Austrian Ministerial .Council, after the assassination of the Arcuduke, provoked, the war with ; Serbia, fully realising that the ultimatum must be rejected. .Count Ti6za alone was willing. to be content with a diplomatic! victory, and wished tc malco torma such as 1 Serbia could accept. Count Berchtold insisted 'ipon war, declaring that hs realised that Russia would be dragged in, but saying that the Kaiser and. von BethmannHollweg had given a satisfactory guarantee in' the event of complications.--Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, '