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http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/willynicky.htm 6 July 2005 Tsar to Kaiser 29 July 1914, 1 a.m. Peter's Court Palais, 29 July 1914 Sa Majesté l'Empereur Am glad you are back. In this serious moment, I appeal to you to
help me. An ignoble war has been declared to a weak country. The
indignation in Russia shared fully by me is enormous. I foresee that
very soon I shall be overwhelmed by the pressure forced upon me and
be forced to take extreme measures which will lead to war. To try
and avoid such a calamity as a European war I beg you in the name of
our old friendship to do what you can to stop your allies from going
too far. It is with the gravest concern that I hear of the impression which the action of Austria against Serbia is creating in your country. The unscrupulous agitation that has been going on in Serbia for years has resulted in the outrageous crime, to which Archduke Francis Ferdinand fell a victim. The spirit that led Serbians to murder their own king and his wife still dominates the country. You will doubtless agree with me that we both, you and me, have a common interest as well as all Sovereigns to insist that all the persons morally responsible for the dastardly murder should receive their deserved punishment. In this case politics plays no part at all. On the other hand, I fully understand how difficult it is for you and your Government to face the drift of your public opinion. Therefore, with regard to the hearty and tender friendship which binds us both from long ago with firm ties, I am exerting my utmost influence to induce the Austrians to deal straightly to arrive to a satisfactory understanding with you. I confidently hope that you will help me in my efforts to smooth over difficulties that may still arise. Your very sincere and devoted friend and cousin I received your telegram and share your wish that peace should be maintained. But as I told you in my first telegram, I cannot consider Austria's action against Serbia an "ignoble" war. Austria knows by experience that Serbian promises on paper are wholly unreliable. I understand its action must be judged as trending to get full guarantee that the Serbian promises shall become real facts. This my reasoning is borne out by the statement of the Austrian cabinet that Austria does not want to make any territorial conquests at the expense of Serbia. I therefore suggest that it would be quite possible for Russia to remain a spectator of the austro-serbian conflict without involving Europe in the most horrible war she ever witnessed. I think a direct understanding between your Government and Vienna possible and desirable, and as I already telegraphed to you, my Government is continuing its exercises to promote it. Of course military measures on the part of Russia would be looked
upon by Austria as a calamity we both wish to avoid and jeopardize
my position as mediator which I readily accepted on your appeal to
my friendship and my help. Thanks for your telegram conciliatory and friendly. Whereas official message presented today by your ambassador to my minister was conveyed in a very different tone. Beg you to explain this divergency! It would be right to give over the Austro-servian problem to the Hague conference. Trust in your wisdom and friendship. Your loving Nicky Thank you heartily for your quick answer. Am sending Tatischev
this evening with instructions. Nicky Best thanks for telegram. It is quite out of the question that my
ambassadors language could have been in contradiction with the tenor
of my telegram. Count Pourtalès was instructed to draw the attention
of your government to the danger & grave consequences involved by a
mobilisation; I said the same in my telegram to you. Austria has
only mobilised against Servia & only a part of her army. If, as it
is now the case, according to the communication by you & your
Government, Russia mobilises against Austria, my rôle as mediator
you kindly intrusted me with, & which I accepted at you[r] express
prayer, will be endangered if not ruined. The whole weight of the
decision lies solely on you[r] shoulders now, who have to bear the
responsibility for Peace or War. On your appeal to my friendship and your call for assistance began to mediate between your and the austro-hungarian Government. While this action was proceeding your troops were mobilised against Austro-Hungary, my ally. thereby, as I have already pointed out to you, my mediation has been made almost illusory. I have nevertheless continued my action. I now receive authentic news of serious preparations for war on my Eastern frontier. Responsibility for the safety of my empire forces preventive measures of defence upon me. In my endeavours to maintain the peace of the world I have gone to the utmost limit possible. The responsibility for the disaster which is now threatening the whole civilized world will not be laid at my door. In this moment it still lies in your power to avert it. Nobody is threatening the honour or power of Russia who can well afford to await the result of my mediation. My friendship for you and your empire, transmitted to me by my grandfather on his deathbed has always been sacred to me and I have honestly often backed up Russia when she was in serious trouble especially in her last war. The peace of Europe may still be maintained by you, if Russia
will agree to stop the milit. measures which must threaten Germany
and Austro-Hungary. I thank you heartily for your mediation which begins to give one
hope that all may yet end peacefully. I received your telegram. Understand you are obliged to mobilise
but wish to have the same guarantee from you as I gave you, that
these measures do not mean war and that we shall continue
negotiating for the benefit of our countries and universal peace
deal to all our hearts. Our long proved friendship must succeed,
with God's help, in avoiding bloodshed. Anxiously, full of
confidence await your answer. Thanks for your telegram. I yesterday pointed out to your government the way by which alone war may be avoided. Although I requested an answer for noon today, no telegram from
my ambassador conveying an answer from your Government has reached
me as yet. I therefore have been obliged to mobilise my army. |