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2] I WARN HIS MAJESTY 65
on the subject of Austria, you may rely entirely on us.
My august Master does not wish for war, at all costs he
will avoid anything that might bring it about; and we
will warn the Serbians, in the most explicit manner,
against all dangerous impulses, against anything which
might justly irritate the Central Powers. On the other
hand, if the two Balkan countries, henceforth united,
were to be attacked without cause by Austria we should
doubtless look on such aggression as a challenge hurled
directly at us. Moreover, Your Majesty knows my
opinion and probably shares it, this opinion being that
Austria—under present conditions anyhow—would not
dare to risk an aggression without due cause. Finally,
touching the justifiable claim of Bulgaria and Serbia to
protect their kin in Turkey—for us the question resolves
itself thus : on the one hand, as Your Majesty knows so
well, we should not wish to do anything conducive
to an armed collision in the Near East, and I have
repeatedly informed the Royal Government that in
St. Petersburg everything will be done to prevent such
a collision. But on the other hand, we realise perfectly
well that the best way to prevent any untoward events
would be to resume and successfully to terminate the
international work so well started in Macedonia before
the Turkish Revolution. At that period one of the
stumbling blocks to the work had been Serbo-Bulgarian
rivalry. This rivalry once disposed of, our work will
become far easier, and Your Majesty may rest assured
that we shall avail ourselves of this improved situation."
While I was unfolding these ideas of mine, Ferdinand’s
expression became more and more gloomy. He refrained,
however, from all controversy and, passing over to
personal subjects, soon dismissed me with the same
studied politeness and amiable words as heretofore.
But under this apparent amiability I thought I
detected signs of displeasure, coldness, even hostility!
I have since been told—and had, moreover, found it
out for myself—that the beginning of my personal
rupture with Ferdinand dated from this significant
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