12 July: In a report to Berchtold, Szögyény gives a summary and explanation of why “authoritative German circles and not least [the Kaiser] himself – one might almost say – press us to undertake possibly even military measures against Serbia”.
“Germany [believes] Russia is arming for war against her western neighbours … but is not at the present moment sufficiently forward with her preparations”.
“[Germany] believes it has sure indications that England would not join in a war over a Balkan country even should this lead to [war] with Russia and eventually even with France. [And] Anglo-German relations have so far improved that Germany no longer fears a directly hostile attitude on England’s part”. [More]