Britain, Thursday, 23rd July

Morning Mensdorff gives Grey an outline of the Austrian note to Serbia mentioning it would have something in the nature of a time limit. To Grey's concern it is thus really an ultimatum.
Grey remarks everything depends on convincing Russia of the justice of Austria's demands and on whether the demands can be accepted by Serbia.
He also tells Mensdorff it would be terrible if the four great powers - Austria-Hungary, Germany, Russia and France - were involved in war. Naming just these four powers implies Britain will remain neutral in a European war.

London Haldane receives a letter from Hoyos setting out the reasons why Austria-Hungary is forced to take strong action against Serbia.
There is a proven connection with the assassins. They had been equipped and trained by Serbian officers and smuggled across the frontier by customs officials.
Serbia is working to bring about a revolution in the Austro-Hungarian Southern Slav provinces. Russia stands behind Serbia. Vienna has to act even at the risk of a European war.
He points out that if Russia is successful in the Balkans it will then turn its attention towards India.

Evening Three cabinet members Haldane, Morley, and Grey have dinner with Albert Ballin, a German shipping magnate, who sometimes acts as an informal link with the German government.
They talk mainly about naval matters but the Serbian crisis is mentioned. After the meeting Ballin writes to Jagow saying it should be easy to keep Britain and France peaceful. Haldane later says he told Ballin that Britain's neutrality depended on Germany not attacking France. [More]