France and Germany have beco old enemies since the Franco-Prussian War. France wholeheartedly wanted to avenge the Franco-Prussian War, and it was ashad. In the sa way, Germany also wants to defeat France again and dominate the European continent.
After the Sarajevo incident broke out, France imdiately felt a huge crisis. French President Raymond Poincaré asked the army to begin secret mobilization and prepare for battle. At the sa ti, the ambassador to Russia was also required to contact the Russian side. France and Russia have signed a military alliance treaty. Once the two countries are attacked by Germany, the other country must attack Germany unconditionally.
The French know that Germany's military strength has expanded too fast. If they rely only on their own strength, they are not Germany's opponents at all. Therefore, they can only pull in other countries to deal with Germany together. Fortunately, Germany has many opponents. The combination of France and Russia is enough to contain Germany on land. Coupled with the support of the United Kingdom, it is not impossible to defeat Germany.
The British on the other side of the strait have a sowhat different attitude. The United Kingdom is also ready for war, and believes that fighting early is worse than fighting late, and any further delay will be detrintal to itself. Because Britain, seeing that Germany was more productive than itself, would quickly catch up in the naval shipbuilding race, hoping to defeat a dangerous rival by war while still maintaining naval superiority in 1914.
However, after the Sarajevo incident, Britain did not show its intention to join the war at first, because it was worried that Germany would rein in the precipice, and was afraid of taking the responsibility of starting the war first. At the sa ti, there is a pro-German faction in the British Parliant and cabinet. In the British cabinet, 12 cabinet mbers did not approve of going to war. The entire working class and most Liberals opposed going to war. A mass rally in Trafalgar Square demanded that Britain declare neutrality. Under the pressure of the massive peace movent, British Foreign Secretary Gray told the German ambassador to Britain that Britain has no alliance with Russia and France and is not bound by any obligations, and has repeatedly stated that Britain's attitude is to "do everything possible to prevent the There is a war between great powers."
On July 5, Zhuo Jiyi, the ambassador of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to Germany, was ordered to submit the personal letter of Emperor Franz Joseph I to Wilhelm II. The letter said: The assassination of the Crown Prince of Austria "was the result of the direct instigation of the Great Slavophiles of Russia and Serbia; their sole purpose was to weaken the Triple Alliance and split my empire. . . My court and my dominion will be in peril for a long ti. . . . After the recent terrible events in Bosnia, you must also think that an amicable settlent of the hostilities between Austria-Hungary and Serbia is impossible; As long as Belgrade, the source of this criminal incitent, is not punished, the peace policy of all European monarchies will be threatened." The so-called punishnt of Serbia in the letter is to start a war against Serbia. Franz Joseph I begged Wilhelm II to support his war effort.
On July 5 and July 6, William II successively convened senior generals and governnt ministers to hold etings at Potsdam Palace. He inford his courtiers of the possible war. The generals replied to the emperor that all preparations for war were in place. The Chief of Quartermaster of the General Staff reported to the Emperor: "After this audience, I have nothing more to do. The mobilization plan was completed on March 31, 1914. The army is ready, as usual." It can be seen that Germany's war preparations have already been completed. Under such circumstances, Kaiser Wilhelm II issued an order to prepare for war.
On July 20, French President Raymond Poincaré and Pri Minister René Viviani visited Russia. The two countries pledged to each other that, in the event of war against Germany, the two countries would fulfill their obligations as allies. Russia and France have repeatedly emphasized the "precious friendship" between the two countries in the communiqués of the talks between the two countries and on public diplomatic occasions, exaggerated the "brotherly naval and army forces", and expressed to each other that they would "loyally and unremittingly cooperate with their allies". cooperate". During the summit eting between the two countries, the Russian governnt held a reception banquet at the Winter Palace in Petersburg. During the eting, Raymond Poincaret talked with the Austro-Hungarian ambassador specifically, asking the ambassador to tell the Austro-Hungarian governnt "should be particularly cautious" in handling relations with Serbia. He emphasized: "Serbia is a very close friend among the Russian people, and Russia has an ally, France. There are so many terrible disputes on this issue."
On July 23, the Austro-Hungarian Empire issued an ultimatum to the Serbian governnt. Demands that the Serbian governnt et the following demands of the Austro-Hungarian Empire: shut down any publications that arouse hatred and contempt for the Austro-Hungarian imperial family; imdiately ban national self-defense organizations and other organizations that promote anti-Austro-Hungarian empire; imdiately ban educational groups and teaching thods , delete any teaching content that would or might incite anti-Austro-Hungarian propaganda; remove officials in the military or administrative departnts who are accused of conducting anti-Austro-Hungarian propaganda, and the list of such officials is provided by the Austro-Hungarian governnt; Accept cooperation with the relevant departnts of the Austro-Hungarian governnt to suppress activities in Serbia that attempt to subvert the territorial integrity of the Austro-Hungarian Empire; with the assistance and instructions of the relevant departnts designated by the Austro-Hungarian governnt, take legal action to punish planning or execution June 28 the assassination of those who were on Serbian territory in 1914; the imdiate arrest of the two persons nad according to the preliminary investigations of the Austro-Hungarian Empire; cooperation in taking effective asures to curb arms smuggling in its territory; explaining to Austria-Hungary Hostility, remarks by senior Serbian officials inside or outside Serbia; take the above asures imdiately and inform Austria-Hungary.
Serbia is willing to accept the ultimatum proposed by the Austro-Hungarian Empire except for Articles 4 and 5. However, this is obviously not the result desired by the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
After Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum, Russia inford the Austria-Hungary Empire that attacking Serbia would trigger Russia's general mobilization, and stated that Russia would not allow Austria-Hungary to defeat Serbia and beco the hegemon of the Balkans. On July 26, British Foreign Secretary Gray proposed that Germany, Britain, France, and Italy diate the discord between Austria and Serbia. However, Britain secretly encouraged France and Russia to fight against Germany and Austria and promised to support them, which emboldened France and Russia.
The true face of Britain was publicly exposed the day after Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. On July 29, Gray received the German ambassador and made it clear that if the conflict was limited to Russia and Austria, Britain could remain neutral; Under the circumstances, you will be forced to make an urgent decision. In this case, you cannot sit on the sidelines for a long ti."
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