Page "July Crisis" Paragraph 83

Confronted with the ultimatum and the lack of support from other European powers, the Serbian Cabinet worked out a compromise where Serbia accepted all of the terms of the ultimatum except for the demand in point # 6 that Austrian police be allowed to operate in Serbia.

The German shipping tycoon Albert Ballin recalled that when the German government heard a misleading report that Serbia had accepted the ultimatum, there was “ disappointment ”, but “ tremendous joy ” when it learned that the Serbs had not accepted all of the Austrian terms.

When Ballin suggested Wilhelm end his North Sea cruise to deal with the crisis, the German Foreign Ministry flatly stated the Emperor should continue his cruise because “... everything must be done to ensure that he does not interfere in things with his pacifist ideas .” At the same time, a message was sent to Berchtold from his ambassador in Berlin reminding him “ Here every delay in the beginning of war operations is regarded as signifying the danger that foreign powers might interfere.

We are urgently advised to proceed without delay .”