July 31

Signatures on the Treaty of London (1839)

Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia, confident that Germany will support her.

Germany prepares to declare war on Russia, but asks France to declare it would remain neutral in the event of a war between Germany and Russia. Bound by her treaty with Russia, France refuses and prepares to mobilise.

Britain asks France and Germany to respect Belgian neutrality, which is protected by the Treaty of London, signed in 1839 by the Great Powers. France pledges to do so; Germany makes no reply.

In his memoirs, Sir Edward Grey describes this action as taking "a diplomatic step that contemplated the contingency of war." He went on, "The step now taken in London was in close accord with the attitude of Mr Gladstone's Government in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. On that occasion both France and Germany agreed to respect Belgian neutrality. This time France agreed, Germany evaded the request for an assurance."

Sir Edward Grey

Grey reflected, "It seemed to me that Germany had precipitated war. My reading of the situation at the time was that Austria had gone recklessly ahead against Serbia, believing that the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina would be repeated; that she could humiliate Serbia and that Russia would, as in 1909, recoil before the "shining armour" of Germany and that there would be no great war. When Austria found that the parallel of 1909 was not to be repeated and that things were serious, she began to try to get out of it. Germany then precipitated war and told Austria that, as an Ally, she could not get out. ... no Great Power could submit to a second humiliation such as ... Russia had suffered in 1909. It was precisely because Russia had recoiled in 1909 that she was sure not to abdicate her Slav role now."

July 30

Coat of Arms of the Russian Empire

Following the news of a German partial mobilisation, at 4pm the Czar signed the order for general
mobilisation of the Russian forces.

He had been convinced by his advisers that unless this order was approved, Russia's Polish provinces were at risk.

Further steps: 29 July

Czar Nicholas II

On this day the Russians began a partial mobilisation of their army; nevertheless even at this stage the Czar appealed to the Kaiser to, "try and avoid such a calamity as a European war". The Kaiser also contacted the Czar stating, "I am exerting my utmost influence to induce the Austrians ... to arrive at a satisfactory understanding with you."

Encouraged by this, the Czar attempted to cancel the partial mobilisation, but his Foreign Minister, Sergius Sazonoff, and the Chief of the Russian General Staff, persuaded him that this was not possible.

The Austrians bombarded Belgrade by monitors

Punch publishes an interesting cartoon on the increasing tension in Europe. Drawn by Leonard Raven-Hill, it shows Austria-Hungary (note the eagle is two-headed) bemused by plucky Serbia's attitude and suspects it is due to Russian support (represented by the bear hiding behind the rock).

July 28 - Austria-Hungary declares war

Franz Conrad von Hotzendorf

At 11am Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, confident of Germany's support.

Remarkably this could not lead to an immediate full-scale invasion. On 26 July Franz Conrad von Hotzendorf, Chief of the General Staff, had told Count Berchtold that this would be impossible for a number of weeks.

Even more remarkably, earlier that morning, the Kaiser had read for the first time the full text of the Austro-Hungarian ultimatum and the Serbian response. The Kaiser could see no reason for any declaration of war, commenting, "A great moral victory for Vienna; but with it every reason for war is removed."

This untimely incident remained secret until after the war. 

The Kaiser

Unfortunately it was too late, since Austria-Hungary's
declaration of war took place an hour or so later.

July 27 - Further steps

General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien

On the basis of Serbia's reply to the ultimatum, Czar Nicholas proposes the opening of negotiations with Austria-Hungary. This proposal is rejected by Vienna.

On the same day, Sir Edward Grey tried to convene a conference between Britain, Germany, France and Italy "for the purpose of discovering an issue which would prevent complications". The proposal was vetoed by Germany on the grounds that such a conference was not "practicable".

The British War Office instructs General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien to guard vulnerable points in southern Britain.

John Burns, the President of the Board of Trade, recorded in his diary, "Why four great powers should fight over Serbia no fellow can understand."

John Burns

He felt war must be averted by "all the means in our power", and that it was his especial duty to "dissociate myself and the principles I hold, and the trusteeship for the working classes which I carry" from such as crime as any declaration of war will be.

July 25 - Serbia's response

The State Flag of Serbia

At three o'clock on the afternoon of 25 July, Serbia mobilised.

Three hours later she replied to Austria's ultimatum. Wishing to avoid conflict, Serbia agreed to almost all of the demands.

"(Preamble) ...[Serbia] cannot be held responsible for manifestations of a private character, such as articles in the press and the peaceable work of societies ... [The Serbian government] have been pained and surprised at the statements, according to which members of the Kingdom of Serbia are supposed to have participated in the preparations of the crime...
[However, Serbia is] prepared to hand over for trial any Serbian subject . .of whose complicity in the crime of Sarajevo proofs are forthcoming [as well as officially condemn all propaganda against A-H].

1. [Serbia will] introduce ... a provision into the press law providing for the most severe punishment of incitement to hatred and contempt of the [A-H] Monarchy...
    
2. The Serbian govt.] possesses no proof ... that the Narodna Odbrana and other similar societies have committed up to the present any criminal act of this nature ... Nevertheless, [Serbia] will ... dissolve the Narodna Obrana and every other society which...
    
3. [Serbia will] eliminate without delay from public instruction ... everything that serves or might serve to foment the propaganda against [A-H], whenever [Austria] furnish them with facts and proofs...
    
4. [Serbia] also agree to remove from the military service all such persons as the judicial inquiry may have proved to be guilty of acts directed against the integrity of the territory of [A-H], and they expect [Austria] to communicate ... the names and acts of these officers for the purpose of the proceedings which are to be taken against them.
    
5. [The Serbian govt. does] not clearly grasp the meaning or the scope of the demand ... that Serbia shall undertake to accept the collaboration of the representatives of [A-H], but they declare that they will admit such collaboration as agrees with the principle of international law, with criminal procedure, and with good neighbourly relations.
    
6. ...As regards the participation in this inquiry [which Serbia intends to hold] of Austro-Hungarian agents... [Serbia] cannot accept such an arrangement, as it would be a violation of the Constitution...
    
7. [States it has not yet been possible to arrest one of the persons named; request proofs of guilt from Austria]
    
8. [agrees to reinforce measures against illegal trafficking of arms and explosives across the frontier with Bosnia-Herzegovina]
    
9. [offers explanations of anti-Austrian comments by Serb officials if Austria sends examples of their actually having been made]
    
10. [Serbia will duly notify the measures taken, but if Austria is not satisfied with the reply] the Serbian government . . are ready . . to accept a pacific understanding, either by referring this question to the decision of the International Tribunal of the Hague [i.e., the World Court], or to the Great Powers..."

July 24 - Russian reaction to the ultimatum

On the following day, the Russian Council of Ministers met to consider the ultimatum presented to Serbia. The Russians considered it a direct challenge. While they did not object to Austrian demands within the limits of international law, the Russians were not prepared to see Serbia unduly humiliated. They advised the Serbs to be accommodating but at the same time decided to mobilise if Austria-Hungary were to invade Serbia.

July 23 - The Austro-Hungarian Ultimatum

Austro-Hungarian Flag

Following the assurances given by Germany, the Austro-Hungarians presented their ultimatum to Serbia on 23 July. They demanded a reply within 48 hours.

The ultimatum comprised a list of demands upon the Serbian government.  It assumed that the Serbian government was implicated in the events at Sarajevo. The ultimatum was presented by the Austrian government to Belgrade on Thursday 23 July 1914 at 6pm.  A response was demanded within two days, ie by 6pm on Saturday 25 July.

The principal demands were:

(1) To suppress any publication which incites to hatred and contempt of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and the general tendency of which is directed against its territorial integrity
(2) To dissolve immediately the society styled "Narodna Odbrana," to confiscate all its means of propaganda, and to proceed in the same manner against other societies and their branches in Serbia which engage in propaganda against the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.  The Royal Government shall take the necessary measures to prevent the societies dissolved from continuing their activity under another name and form
(3) To eliminate without delay from public instruction in Serbia, both as regards the teaching body and also as regards the methods of instruction, everything that serves, or might serve, to foment the propaganda against Austria-Hungary
(4) To remove from the military service, and from the administration in general, all officers and functionaries guilty of propaganda against the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy whose names and deeds the Austro-Hungarian Government reserve to themselves the right of communicating to the Royal Government
(5) To accept the collaboration in Serbia of representatives of the Austro-Hungarian Government for the suppression of the subversive movement directed against the territorial integrity of the Monarchy;
(6) To take judicial proceedings against accessories to the plot of the 28th of June who are on Serbian territory; delegates of the Austro-Hungarian Government will take part in the investigation relating thereto
(7) To proceed without delay to the arrest of Major Voija Tankositch and of the individual named Milan Ciganovitch, a Serbian State employee, who have been compromised by the results of the magisterial inquiry at Serajevo
(8) To prevent by effective measures the cooperation of the Serbian authorities in the illicit traffic in arms and explosives across the frontier, to dismiss and punish severely the officials of the frontier service at Shabatz Loznica guilty of having assisted the perpetrators of the Serajevo crime by facilitating their passage across the frontier;
(9) To furnish the Imperial and Royal Government with explanations regarding the unjustifiable utterances of high Serbian officials, both in Serbia and abroad, who, notwithstanding their official position, have not hesitated since the crime of the 28th of June to express themselves in interviews in terms of hostility to the Austro-Hungarian Government; and, finally,
(10) To notify the Imperial and Royal Government without delay of the execution of the measures comprised under the preceding heads.

Sir Edward Grey, Britain's Foreign Secretary

In his memoirs (Twenty-Five Years 1892-1916, London: 1925) Sir Edward Grey, Britain's Foreign Secretary, commented:

"At length, but suddenly at the last, came the Austrian ultimatum to Serbia: unexpectedly severe; harsher in tone and more humiliating in its terms than any communication of which we had recollection addressed by one independent Government to another.

"The Austrian ultimatum was not supported by any evidence of complicity of the Serbian authorities in the murder, and it appeared that both the assassins arrested were Austrian subjects. One of them had already been regarded as an undesirable by Serbia; ... All this gave rise to a strong feeling that Serbia was being dealt with more harshly than was just."

July 5 - The start of the "July Crisis"

Bethmann-Hollweg, German Chancellor

In early July, following the assassination of the Archduke, the Austro-Hungarians sent Count Hyos, Count Berchtold's principal aide at the Foreign Ministry, to find out what the Germans would do after Sarajevo. Count Hyos discussed this with the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador in Berlin, Count Szogyeny. On 5 July, Count Szogyeny was given a special audience with Kaiser Wilhelm II in the New Palace at Potsdam.

During the course of this audience, the Kaiser gave the assurances sought: that Austro-Hungary could count on Germany's support if Russia were to intervene in support of Serbia. That evening Szogeyeny cabled Count Berchtold that he had received "full German backing" in any action that Vienna decided to take, even if "serious European complications" resulted, requesting only that it would be done speedily.

The Kaiser's pledge was confirmed the following day by the German Chancellor, Bethmann-Hollweg and Arthur Zimmermann, the Under Secretary of State. The "July Crisis" had started.