“JULY, 1914”

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 198, 14 November 1934, Page 14

“JULY, 1914”

ALLEGED DIARY OF THE CZAR. The Soviet authorities in Moscow have published what purports to be tne late Czar’s Diary for July, 19H, Old Style, covering tho critical period at the opening of the Great War. ine Diary is accompanied by comments anil footnotes explaining inter alia that the “text of the Diary lias been piepared for the Press by Sergeieft, of the Special Department of Central Histoiical Archives.” The Diary consists of very brief notes concerning chiefly the weather and unimportant everyday happenings, with little intrinsic State or human interest. For example, the entry for Sunday, July 6 (July 19 N.S.), .after a reference to tho weather continues: “Went to Kronstadt, attended church en route. After lunch finished reading last night’s papers. . ■” For July 7/20 the Diary refers briefly to "the visit of President Poincare, whom the Czar calls “the kindly President.” “Whole morning endless visitors. After Grigorovich’s (Minister of Marine) report went at noon to the quay and inspected new radio-tele-graphic station . . . later weather improved.”

The same even tone scarcely varies throughout the references to events leading up to the War. These generally appear almost interjectionally and without comment. The first mention of the Austro-Serbian crisis is dated Saturday, 12/25, and runs thus: —

“On Thursday evening Austria presented Serbia with ultimatum .with demands whereof eight are unacceptable for an independent State. Term expired to-day at 6 p.m. Talk here concerns only this.”

Tho 'next reference on July 15/28: “. . . Sazonoff informed mo that Austria at noon to-day had declared war on Serbia. We dined with Olga and Arsenieff. Spent the whole evening reading and writing. July 16/29: . . . played tennis: weather was splendid. Rut day was extraordinarily agitated. Sazonotf (Minister for Foreign Affairs) or Sukhomlinoff (Minister for War) or Yanti'Shkevich (Chief of the General Staff) was continually calling me to the telephone. Besides I was carrying on an urgent telegraphic correspondence with Wilhelm (the German Emperor). . . Had enjoyable swim in the sea, dined, and spent evening with Olga.”

This entry does not mention the war cloud, but apparently it was oppressing the Czar, for the next entry begins

“July 18/31: The day was gray: my mood was gray too. July 19/Aug. 1: . . . After lunch summoned Nicholas (the Grand Duke), informed him of his appointment as Commander-in-Chief until I joined the Army. Went to a convent with Alix (tho Czaritsa). On returning from a walk in the evening learnt that Germany had declared war on us. Buchanan, the British Ambassador, brought a telegram from (King) George. A long time with him: put together a reply, then saw Nicholas (the Grand Duke).” Next day the Czar signed the declaration of war on Germany. On July 22,/August 4 Germany declared war on France, “directing the chief attack

against her.” The entry for July 23/ *Sk!d3S?& morning, Britain dedared war on Germany because the latter had attacked France and without the least ceremony violated . the neutrality of Luxemburg and Belgium. Externally campaign could not b Gd u better for us. . . duly 24/Aug. 6. A is tria at last declared war on ; us. Now the position is quite definiteFor the following days till the end of July (Aug. 13 N.S>.) the Diary is occupied largely with brief references to the difficulties' experienced by members of the Imperial Family in getting home from abroad.