Czar Outlines Events Leading to War, St. Petersburg, Aug. 3.
By the grace of God, we, Nicholas II., Emperor and Autocrat of all
the Russias, King of Poland, and Grand Duke of Finland, &c., to all
our faithful subjects make known that Russia, related by faith and
blood to the Slav peoples and faithful to her historical
traditions, has never regarded their fates with indifference.
But the fraternal sentiments of the Russian people for the Slavs
have been awakened with perfect unanimity and extraordinary force
in these last few days, when Austria-Hungary knowingly addressed to
Servia claims inacceptable for an independent State.
Having paid no attention to the pacific and conciliatory reply of
the Servian Government and having rejected the benevolent
intervention of Russia, Austria-Hungary made haste to proceed to an
armed attack, and began to bombard Belgrade, an open place.
Forced by the situation thus created to take necessary measures of
precaution, we ordered the army and the navy put on a war footing,
at the same time using every endeavor to obtain a peaceful
solution. Pourparlers were begun amid friendly relations with
Germany and her ally, Austria, for the blood and the property of
our subjects were dear to us.
Contrary to our hopes in our good neighborly relations of long
date, and disregarding our assurances that the mobilization
measures taken were in pursuance of no object hostile to her,
Germany demanded their immediate cessation. Being rebuffed in this
demand, Germany suddenly declared war on Russia.
Today it is not only the protection of a country related to us and
unjustly attacked that must be accorded, but we must safeguard the
honor, the dignity, and the integrity of Russia and her position
among the great powers.
We believe unshakably that all our faithful subjects will rise with
unanimity and devotion for the defense of Russian soil; that
internal discord will be forgotten in this threatening hour; that
the unity of the Emperor with his people will become still more
close, and that Russia, rising like one man, will repulse the
insolent attack of the enemy.
With a profound faith in the justice of our work, and with a humble
hope in omnipotent Providence in prayer, we call God's blessing on
holy Russia and her valiant troops.