The Admiralty orders the Royal Navy First Fleet to move to its war stations.

Explanation received from British ambassador in Berlin of Germany’s rejection of Britain’s ambassadors’ conference proposal. “Conference” sounds too much like a “tribunal”.

British Foreign Secretary has already sent wire to the ambassador saying he believes best way forward now is direct exchange of views between Austria-Hungary and Russia.

Italian Foreign Minister tells British ambassador in Rome the Austro-Hungarian ultimatum is a deliberate provocation to war or “le triomphe de l’imbecilite”. Italy supports Britain’s mediation proposals.