Russia, Saturday, 11th July

13 July In a conversation with Pourtalès, Sazonov denies the Austro-Hungarian press assertions that the Sarajevo outrage is the result of a pan-Serb plot.
He says there is till now not the slightest proof and it is utterly unjust to hold the Serbian government responsible for the acts of a few callow youths.

14 July Russian intelligence has broken the Austro-Hungarian diplomatic code. It learns that Vienna is asking its embassy in St Petersburg when the French President will be leaving St Petersburg after his State visit.
The Russians have also broken the Italian diplomatic code and they know the contents of the message sent by the Italian Foreign Minister to the Italian ambassador in St Petersburg telling him Austria-Hungary intends to take strong action against Serbia.

14 July Sazonov leaves St Petersburg for his country estate to take a few days rest before the French State visit.
While he is away there are more warnings concerning Austria-Hungary's intentions.

16 July Shebeko reports from Vienna information he has received from the British ambassador that the Austro-Hungarian government is planning to make demands on Serbia that would be unacceptable to any independent State.
The original source of the information is a retired Austrian diplomat Count Lutzow, who has been told this in a long and surprisingly candid conversation with Berchtold and Forgách.

16 July Carlotti, the Italian ambassador, gives his impression to Schilling that Austria-Hungary is capable of taking an irrevocable step in regard to Serbia in the belief that Russia will not take any forcible measures to protect Serbia.
Schilling says Russia will not permit any weakening or humiliation of Serbia.

16 July Shebeko also sends details of a speech by Tisza in the Hungarian Parliament. Tisza had said the clarification of relations between Austria-Hungary and Serbia did not necessarily mean warlike complications but every state must be ready for war if all peaceful solutions are exhausted.