When
asked about the French colonies, no assurance was given.
[English "White Paper," No. 85.]
Later in the day the German Chancellor again saw the English Ambassador,
and expressed regret
"that events had marched too rapidly, and that it was
therefore too late to act upon your [Sir Edward Grey's]
suggestion that the Servian reply might form the basis of
discussion."
[English "White Paper," No. 75.]
On the same day the Ambassador for Germany at St. Petersburg called upon
Sazonof and expressed himself in favor of further explanations between
Vienna and St. Petersburg, to which Sazonof assented. [Russian "Orange
Paper," No. 49.] On the same day Sir Edward Grey asked the German
Government
"_to suggest any form of procedure_ under which the idea of
mediation between Austria and Russia, already accepted by the
German Government in principle, _could be applied_."
To which the German Foreign Office replied that it could not act for
fear that if they made to their ally any suggestion that looked like
pressure it might "_cause them [Austria] to precipitate matter and
present a fait accompli_.
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