7.00 P.M.: Pourtalès calls on Sazonov for their third meeting that day. He carries out Bethmann’s instruction and tells Sazonov that “further progress of Russian mobilisation measures would compel us to mobilise and that then European war would scarcely be prevented”.
Sazonov sees the German message as an ultimatum. It convinces him that Berlin is behind Austro-Hungarian actions.
He had thought partial mobilisation against Austria-Hungary was a sufficient response. He now thinks a European war is inevitable and Russia therefore must start general mobilisation immediately. [More]