Austria, Saturday, 11th July

11 July In a private letter, Tschirschky tells Jagow more details about some of the demands being discussed in Vienna, and if Serbia's reply is unsatisfactory mobilisation will follow.

11 July Berchtold, his colleagues, and Burián meet again and make good progress on drafting the note.
It is now decided to do everything in one step; a note with a time limit rather than as Tisza wants in two steps, a note making demands, followed by an ultimatum if they are not accepted. He has been wired for his input but has not replied.

11 July Tschirschky calls on Berchtold to impress upon him once more that quick action is called for. Berchtold tells him the note will not be presented before 23 July after the French president has left St Petersburg. They do not want the Russians and French co-ordinating their response to the ultimatum at a high level.

11 July Austro-Hungarian intelligence has broken the Italian diplomatic code and learns the German ambassador in Rome has told the Italian Foreign Minister Austria-Hungary intends to take strong action against Serbia and the Minister has passed this information to the Italian ambassador in St Petersburg.
The Austrians suspect the Russians have also broken the code and will now have this information.

12 July, Bad Ischl Burián sees the Emperor. The Emperor says he wants the demands on Serbia to allow no excuses and to fix guarantees. He realises this is difficult but he hopes the Austro-Hungarian leaders will soon reach unanimity on what is required. As a further gesture to Tisza he says there is no question of annexing Serbian territory after the war.

12 July Conrad writes to Berchtold telling him a protracted or piecemeal diplomatic action with Serbia must be avoided because it will give the Serbs time for military measures that will place Austria-Hungary at a disadvantage. A peaceable appearance should be maintained.

13 July Berchtold gets the results of a rapid three day investigation in Sarajevo by a legal counsellor from the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Ministry.
In a strict legal sense there is "nothing to prove or suppose that the Serbian Government is accessory to the inducement for the crime" but there is evidence suggesting that elements in the Serbian government are responsible.
General Potiorek adds his comment to the report that it is the "alternative government" in Serbia, made up of elements in the army, that is responsible for the assassinations. [More]

14 July Tisza has changed his mind and returns to Vienna. He now accepts the note making demands on Serbia should be designed to be rejected.
He sets two conditions, that special defensive measure are taken on the Hungarian border with Romania and that Austria-Hungary itself does not annex any Serbian territory except for minor border modifications. [More]

14 July and after Following this agreement the Austro-Hungarians set about finalising the note. They also wish to give the rest of Europe the impression that nothing alarming is about to happen and Conrad and Krobatin go on leave as planned and the newspapers are told not to comment on Serbia. [More]