#34: 28 July 1914 III - Britain Tries Again

When Diplomacy Fails Podcast

Zack Twamley

19th Century, 20th Century, International Relations, Politics, Thirty Years' War, Korean War, 18th Century, First World War, Phd, 17th Century, European History, History, War

4.8 • 773 Ratings

🗓️ 4 November 2024

⏱️ 65 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Although the Austro-Serb War was now a reality, Britain did not know this until the evening of 28 July. In the meantime, Sir Edward Grey was determined to do all he could to make the mediation scheme work. But not everyone Grey dealt with could be described as sincere, and this included members of his own Cabinet.

Churchill had acted provocatively and pre-emptively in mobilising the fleet and moving it to its battle stations. The Cabinet remained divided over whether to choose a side, but the dilemma was clear. If she declared herself for Russia and France, those powers would be emboldened, and might take greater risks. If, conversely, she declared neutrality, the same effect could be felt in Berlin and Vienna. The solution was thus - still - to keep her options open, but this did not mean British diplomacy slept on 28 July, far from it.

Although the goal was the same, the landscape was rapidly changing under her feet. It was difficult to reconcile Austro-German goals of a limited Serb war with the need Russians felt to defend their Slav brethren. It was at least clear that if the war could be contained, Britain could remain neutral. Yet the space for neutrality was shrinking in line with the escalation in Austro-Serb tensions. By the end of the day, the two foes were at war, and the peaceful hopes of so many had been shattered. The prognosis looked grim, but as had been the case for the last few weeks, Sir Edward Grey had to try.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	In summer 1914, the world went to war.
0:04.6	Now 110 years later, we go back to those figures, to those debates, to those questions,
0:12.2	in the greatest failure in the history of diplomacy.
0:16.3	I am Dr. Zach Twomley. You're listening to When Diplomacy Fails, and this is the use of exchanging views at this juncture?
0:59.3	To my mind, the only possible way of avoiding a conflict is to ask Austria to take no military action, pending conversations,
1:07.2	and it is quite clear that such a request would be preemptorily rejected and would not be supported by Germany.
1:13.6	I am of opinion that the resources of diplomacy are, for the present, exhausted.
1:19.8	Sir Arthur Nicholson adds a pessimistic note to a telegram from Britain's Italian ambassador,
1:25.5	shortly after midnight on the 29th of July 1914.
1:31.1	For the British government, the 28th of July was the day that began with frantic activity
1:36.5	and ended with shattering news of Austria's declaration of war. The many days of hard work to persuade
1:43.0	the powers to join in a conference had clearly been
1:46.0	for naught, but so too had been the follow-up claim that both Austria and Russia would continue
1:51.5	bilateral relations in its place. Russia was hardly likely to negotiate privately with Austria now,
1:58.4	since its Balkan client was in a state of war with her.
2:01.4	Yet, despite these warning signs, there remained a strong undercurrent of hope.
2:06.1	This was not merely for the preservation of a European peace, but also within the British
2:10.5	cabinet itself, the belief British neutrality could be preserved.
2:15.1	The interventionist and non-interventionist camps which existed within the government
2:19.0	were by no means evenly split at this stage.
2:22.1	A majority were for neutrality, and other arguments, particularly those leveled against Russia,
2:27.6	emphasized the strategic error in empowering that autocratic Slav empire any further.
	...

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