Morning: Grey sees Lichnowsky. Grey says Austria-Hungary will mobilise if it rejects the Serbian reply but will not immediately start military operations, and Russia can be expected to mobilise in response to the Austro-Hungarian mobilisation.
The delay before military operations start and frontiers are crossed provides the opportunity for the four not directly involved powers – Germany, Italy, France and Britain – to mediate between the two opposing powers.
It is essential that Germany is one of the mediators. He also says Britain would not be indifferent to European complications.
Lichnowsky reads Grey the telegram from Berlin saying Germany has had nothing to do with the Austro-Hungarian ultimatum. [More]