Russians tell the French they can’t agree to the German request to stop military preparations and as war is likely the best thing is to speed up armaments. They thank the French for their support under the Franco-Russian alliance.

French Prime Minister thinks the Russian Foreign Minister is giving a very wide meaning to the assurances the French ambassador may have given him. He wires St Petersburg that France is resolved to meet its obligations but in the interests of peace Russia should not give Germany a pretext for mobilising.

French cabinet agree covering troops take up positions but on condition they approach no closer than ten kilometres to the frontier so as to avoid contact between German and French patrols.

Wire is sent to the French ambassador in London saying the reason for leaving part of French territory undefended is to show the British government that France will not fire the first shot.