Before 9.00 P.M.: Bethmann makes one more effort to influence Vienna. He telegrams Tschirschky (Telegram 200). He says “while Vienna declines everything, Vienna will be giving documentary evidence that it absolutely wants a war” and Russia would be “free of responsibility”.
If this happens it “would place us, in the eyes of our own people, in an untenable position”. Tschirschky is to see Berchtold, and if necessary Tisza, “at once” and in the “most emphatic language” put these points to the Vienna government. [More]