From World War I Document Archive
No. 46
From: M. N. Pashitch, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs
To: All the Serbian Legations abroad.
Nish, July 15/28, 1914.
(Telegraphic.)
The Austro-Hungarian Government declared war on Serbia at noon to-day by an open telegram to the Serbian Government.
No. 47
From: Dr. M. Spalaikovitch, Minister at Petrograd
To: M. Sazonof, Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Petrograd, July 15/28, 1914.
Your Excellency,
I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that I have received from M. Pashitch the following urgent telegram despatched from Nish at 2.10 p.m.
“The Austro-Hungarian Government declared war on Serbia to-day at noon by an open telegram to the Serbian Governments.”
I have the honour to inform Your Excellency of this regrettable act, which a Great Power had the courage to commit against a small Slav country which only recently emerged from a long series of heroic, but exhausting battles, and I beg leave on this occasion of deep gravity for my country, to express the hope that this act, which disturbs the peace of Europe and revolts her conscience, will be condemned by the whole civilised world and severely punished by Russia, the protector of Serbia.
I beg Your Excellency to be so kind as to lay this petition from the whole Serbian nation before the throne of His Majesty.
I take this opportunity to assure Your Excellency of my loyalty and respect.
I have, &c.
No. 48
From: M. Sazonof, Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs
To: Dr. M. Spalaikovitch, Minister at Petrograd
Petrograd, July 17/30, 1914.
Sir,
I had the honour to receive your note of July 15/28, No. 527, in which you communicated to me the contents of the telegram received by you from His Excellency, M. Pashitch, in regard to the declaration of war on Serbia by Austria-Hungary. I sincerely regret this sad event, and will not fail to lay before His Majesty the petition by the Serbian nation, whose interpreter you are.
I have, &c.
No. 49
From: M. N. Pashitch, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs
To: Dr. M. Yovanovitch, Chargé d’Affaires at Berlin.
Nish, July 22/August 4, 1914.
(Telegraphic.)
Please inform the Imperial Government that you have received instructions to leave Germany, together with the staffs of the Legation and Consulate. You should leave immediately.
No. 50
From: The Royal Serbian Ministry for Foreign Affairs
To: The German legation at Nish.
Nish, July 21/August 6, 1914.
The Royal Serbian Ministry for Foreign Affairs has the honour to inform the Imperial Legation that, in view of the state of war which now exists between Serbia and Austria-Hungary, and of that between Russia and Germany, the ally of Austria-Hungary, the Royal Serbian Government, in view of the solidarity of her interests with Russia and her allies, considers the mission of Baron Gieslingen, the Imperial German Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary, to be at an end. The Royal Serbian Government requests His Excellency to leave Serbian territory with the staff of the Legations. The necessary passports are enclosed herewith.
