Morning: Berchtold convenes the Joint Ministerial Council. He reviews all the latest diplomatic exchanges.
They discuss and approve the basis of a formal reply to Germany. “(1) War operations against Serbia must be continued, (2) We cannot negotiate on the English proposal unless Russian mobilisation is suspended, and (3) Our terms must be integrally accepted [by Serbia] and we could not consent to any negotiations on them”.
They believe any mediation would inevitably work against them. They are intent on destroying the Serbian Army to avoid another problem arising with Serbia in a few years time. [More]