When Diplomacy Fails presents the July Crisis Anniversary Project, a day-by-day account of the events that occurred 100 years ago.

Ultimate

Ultimate

Today is the 23rd of July 2014, and on this day in history 100 years ago,

occurred the following events. Despite the number of ominous warnings that had emanated

out of the summit, Austro-Hungarian foreign minister Leopold remained largely in the dark about the fact that

most capitals in Europe expected some sort of Habsburg response to Serbia in the coming days,

specifically in the form of an ultimatum that would be unacceptable to her.

Of the meeting of the 18th of July, when the Austrian ambassador to Russia, Count Zappari,

met with the Russian foreign minister Sergei Sazanov, when the Austrian ambassador to Russia, Count Zappari, met with

the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Sazanov, and the two had danced around the issue

without really revealing anything, Berkdold had been made aware of.

Saperi's report, back to Vienna, suggested that the Russian farm minister had known nothing

of the plans for an ultimatum, when in reality Sazanov had been

trying to sound out the Hungarian and see what was in store for Serbia. Berkdalt was thus confused

when, on Tuesday the 21st of July, he received a memo from the now deeply offended Count

Zappery, informing the Foreign Minister what the French President, Raymond Ponqueray,

had said to him.

The numerous veiled threats Poncary had thrown at Zappery, combined with the harsh tone and apparent

awareness of Austrian plans, contrasted sharply with the conversation Zappery had had had with

Sazana of only a few days before. Berchtel reasoned that Poincere's outbursts had more to do with his being a hothead,

and his insistence that Russia would stand firm was thought to refer to the strength of the Entente

...