Hungarian Ambassador at St. Petersburg had been instructed to notify the Russian Government that, in view of the menacing attitude of Russia in the Austro-Serbian conflict and the fact that Russia had commenced hostilities against Germany, AustriaHungary considered herself also at war with Russia."

M. Schebeko left quietly in a special train provided by the Austro-Hungarian Government on the 7th August. He had urgently requested to be conveyed to the Roumanian frontier, so that he might be able to proceed to his own country, but was taken instead to the Swiss frontier, and ten days later I found him at Berne.

M. Dumaine, French Ambassador, stayed on till the 12th August. On the previous day he had been instructed to demand his passport on the ground that Austrian troops were being employed against France. This point was not fully cleared up when I left Vienna. On the 9th August M. Dumaine had received from Count Berchtold the categorical declaration that no Austrian troops were being moved to Alsace. The next day this statement was supplemented by a further one, in writing, giving Count Berchtold's assurance that not only had no Austrian troops been moved actually to the French frontier, but that none were moving from Austria in a westerly direction into Germany in such a way that they might replace German troops employed at the front. These two statements were made by Count Berchtold in reply to precise questions put to him by M. Dumaine, under instructions from his Government. The French Ambassador's departure was not attended by any hostile demonstration, but his Excellency before leaving had been justly offended by a harangue made by the Chief Burgomaster of Vienna to the crowd assembled before the steps of the town hall, in which he assured the people that Paris was in the throes of a revolution, and that the President of the Republic had been assassinated.

The British declaration of war on Germany was made known in Vienna by special editions of the newspapers about midday on the 4th August. An abstract of your speeches in the House of Commons, and also of the German Chancellor's speech in the Reichstag of the 4th August, appeared the same day, as well as the text of the German ultimatum to Belgium. Otherwise few details of the great events of these days transpired. The "Neue Freie Presse was violently insulting towards England. The "Fremdenblatt" was not offensive, but little or nothing was said in the columns of any Vienna paper to explain that the violation of Belgian neutrality had left His Majesty's Government no alternative but to take part in the war.

The declaration of Italian neutrality was bitterly felt in Vienna, but scarcely mentioned in the newspapers.

On the 5th August I had the honour to receive your instruction of the previous day preparing me for the immediate outbreak of war with Germany, but adding that, Austria being understood to be not yet at that date at war with Russia and France, you did not desire me to ask for my passport or to make

any particular communication to the Austro-Hungarian Government. You stated at the same time that His Majesty's Government of course expected Austria not to commit any act of war against us without the notice required by diplomatic

usage..

On Thursday morning, the 13th August, I had the honour to receive your telegram of the 12th, stating that you had been compelled to inform Count Mensdorff, at the request of the French Government, that a complete rupture had occurred between France and Austria, on the ground that Austria had declared war on Russia who was already fighting on the side of France, and that Austria had sent troops to the German frontier under conditions that were a direct menace to France. rupture having been brought about with France in this way, I was to ask for my passport, and your telegram stated, in conclusion, that you had informed Count Mensdorff that a state of war would exist between the two countries from midnight of the 12th August.

The

After seeing Mr. Penfield, the United States Ambassador, who accepted immediately in the most friendly spirit my request that his Excellency would take charge provisionally of British interests in Austria-Hungary during the unfortunate interruption of relations, I proceeded, with Mr. Theo Russell, Counsellor of His Majesty's Embassy, to the Ballplatz. Count Berchtold received me at midday. I delivered my message, for which his Excellency did not seem to be unprepared, although he told me that a long telegram from Count Mensdorff had just come in, but had not yet been brought to him. His Excellency received my communication with the courtesy which never leaves him. He deplored the unhappy complications which were drawing such good friends as Austria and England into war. In point of fact, he added, Austria did not consider herself then at war with France, though diplomatic relations with that country had been broken off. I explained in a few words how circumstances had forced this unwelcome conflict upon us. We both avoided useless argument. Then I ventured to recommend to his Excellency's consideration the case of the numerous stranded British subjects at Carlsbad, Vienna, and other places throughout the country. I had already had some correspondence with him on the subject, and his Excellency took a note of what I said, and promised to see what could be done to get them away when the stress of mobilization should be over. Count Berchtold agreed to Mr. Phillpotts, till then British Consul at Vienna under Consul-General Sir Frederick Duncan, being left by me at the Embassy in the capacity of Chargé des Archives. He presumed a similar privilege would not be refused in England if desired on behalf of the Austro-Hungarian Government. I took leave of Count Berchtold with sincere regret, having received from the day of my arrival in Vienna, not quite nine months before, many marks of friendship and consideration from his Excellency. As I left I begged his Excellency to present my

profound respects to the Emperor Francis Josephi, together with an expression of my hope that His Majesty would pass through these sad times with unimpaired health and strength. Count Berchtold was pleased to say he would deliver my message.

Count Walterskirchen, of the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Office, was deputed the following morning to bring me my passport and to acquaint me with the arrangements made for my departure that evening (14th August). In the course of the day Countess Berchtold and other ladies of Vienna society called to take leave of Lady de Bunsen at the Embassy. We left the railway station by special train for the Swiss frontier at 7 P.M. No disagreeable incidents occurred. Count Walterskirchen was present at the station on behalf of Count Berchtold. The journey was necessarily slow, owing to the encumbered state of the line. We reached Buchs, on the Swiss frontier, early in the morning of the 17th August. At the first halting place there had been some hooting and stone throwing on the part of the entraining troops and station officials, but no inconvenience was caused, and at the other large stations on our route we found that ample measures had been taken to preserve us from molestation as well as to provide us with food. I was left in no doubt that the Austro-Hungarian Government had desired that the journey should be performed under the most comfortable conditions possible, and that I should receive on my departure all the marks of consideration due to His Majesty's representative. I was accompanied by my own family and the entire staff of the Embassy, for whose untiring zeal and efficient help in trying times I desire to express my sincere thanks. The Swiss Government also showed courtesy in providing comfortable accommodation during our journey from the frontier to Berne, and, after three days' stay there, on to Geneva, at which place we found that every provision had been made by the French Government, at the request of Sir Francis Bertie, for our speedy conveyance to Paris. We reached England on Saturday morning, the 22nd August.

I have, &c.

MAURICE DE BUNSEN.

DECREE of the Government of the Argentine Republic relative to the Maintenance of Neutrality during the European War.-Buenos Aires, August 5, 1914.

(Translation.)

Department of Foreign Affairs and Public Worship,
Buenos Aires, August 5, 1914.

In view of the communications received by the Executive from the Imperial and Royal Legation of Austria-Hungary,

dated 26th July, notifying the rupture of relations between that country and Serbia; from the diplomatic representatives of Russia and Germany, dated August 2nd and 3rd respectively, notifying the state of war existing between the two countries; from the German Legation, dated August 4th, stating that the Empire is in a state of war with France; from His Britannic Majesty's Legation, dated to-day, declaring that the United Kingdom is at war with the German Empire; from the Belgian Legation, dated to-day, stating that German troops have penetrated their country, and that their Government has decided to resist by force; and considering

That the state of war existing between nations friendly to the Argentine Republic imposes the necessity of determining the rules of judgment and conduct to which the country must adjust itself in order to maintain its neutrality in the conflict;

That the principles of international law, accepted by the opinion of writers on the subject and by the practice of nations, are found condensed in the clauses of the Convention subscribed to at The Hague on the 18th October, 1907;*

That even though this Convention, signed by the Argentine Plenipotentiaries, has not yet been approved by Congress, such circumstances do not lessen in the least its value as a body of doctrine when the duties and rights of neutral nations in cases of war are determined;

That it is indispensable-within the intentions of the Argentine Government to ensure the most unvaried uniformity of procedure for all the belligerent nations.

The Vice-President of the nation

Decrees:

ART. 1. While the state of war lasts between the aforementioned nations or between any of them, the Government of the Argentine Republic will maintain the strictest neutrality.

2. In order to make this resolution effective, the rules of doctrine and procedure laid down in the Convention referring to the rights and duties of neutral Powers, signed at The Hague on the 18th October, 1907, shall be followed in all cases.

3. The measures shall be adopted and the instructions given, by the proper authorities, which are necessary for carrying into effect the present Decree.

4. Communicate, publish, and insert this in the National Register.

JOSÉ LUIS MURATURE.

*Vol. C, pages 359 and 448.

ᏢᏞᎪᏃᎪ.

DECREE of the Government of the Argentine Republic relative to the Restrictions to be Imposed on Foreign Vessels with a view to the Maintenance of Neutrality.-Buenos Aires, August 5, 1914.

(Translation.)

In view of the declaration of the neutrality of the Argentine Republic, and as it is the duty of the Government to prevent acts of hostility being carried out in waters within the jurisdiction of the nation, and in general to take every step tending to the uniform application of the rules of neutrality, and considering :

That Article VIII of The Hague Convention of October 18th, 1907, relative to maritime neutrality* lays down that neutral Governments are obliged to use the means at their disposal to prevent the equipment and armament of every vessel which they have reasonable ground for believing to be intended for conversion into a cruiser or to take part in hostile operations against a Power with which they are at peace.

In compliance with the terms of the relevant Decree, the Minister of Marine

Resolves:

ART. 1. That in the ports of the Republic and in the waters within its jurisdiction no foreign merchiant vessel shall be armed or equipped with a view to its conversion into an auxiliary cruiser of the navies of the belligerent countries.

2. Masters of foreign merchant vessels which form part of the navy of a belligerent country as auxiliary cruisers must, within twenty-four hours, declare this to be the case to the Prefecture-General of Ports in order that the rules of neutrality may be applied, and the vessels shall be considered as ships of war.

3. The roadsteads of Buenos Aires and La Plata are indicated as anchorages for foreign merchant vessels in the River Plate, and a guard of national warships shall be set to prevent any attack between vessels of the belligerent flags and to ensure compliance with the provisions concerning the conversion of merchant vessels into auxiliary cruisers.

4. The proper Departments shall take measures concerning the intervals of time which it is desirable to fix for the departure of vessels of the belligerent nations which might be converted into auxiliary cruisers.

They shall also, if it is considered necessary, set a watch in the said zone of navigation, or cause the said vessels to be escorted to the sea by a national warship in order to ensure the fulfilment of these rules.

5. Publish, &c.

* Vol. C, page 450.