“I have never liked the Emperor William, if only because he is not sincere. He is vain and has always played the comedian. He was always reproaching me with doing nothing for Germany, and has always done his best to separate Russia and France,[32] though I never believed it was for the good of Russia. He will never forgive me this war!
“You know that the Czar received a telegram from him the night before last. It arrived several hours after the declaration of war, and demanded ‘an immediate reply, which alone could avert the terrible disaster.’ He thus tried to deceive the Czar once more, unless the telegram was kept back at Berlin by those who were bent on war in any case.”
Tuesday, August 4th.—Germany has declared war on France and I hear that Switzerland also has mobilised. I have been to the Legation to get the orders for my ultimate departure.
Wednesday, August 5th.—I met the Czar in the park. He told me with immense pleasure that, as a result of the violation of the neutrality of Belgium, England has joined the great cause. The neutrality of Italy seems assured as well.
We have already won a great diplomatic victory. Military victory will follow, and, thanks to the help of England, it will come sooner than we think. The Germans have against them the whole of Europe, with the exception of Austria. Their insolence and despotism have at last been too much even for their allies. Look at the Italians!
This evening I had another long talk with the Czarina, who will not hear of my leaving for Switzerland.
“It’s ridiculous! You will never get there. All communications are interrupted.”
I told her that an arrangement had been made between the French Embassy and the Swiss Legation, and that we should all go home together via the Dardanelles.
“The trouble is that, if you have some chance—it’s a very small one—of getting home, you will have no chance of getting back here before the end of the war. As Switzerland will not fight, you will be at home doing nothing.”