"[We are confronted with our] old dilemma at every Austrian action in the Balkans. If we encourage them, they say we pushed them into it. If we discourage them, they say we left them in the lurch. Then they will throw themselves into the open arms of the Western powers and we lose our last important ally. ... [My predicament is] worse than in 1912, because this time Austria is on the defensive against Serbo-Russian intrigues. ... An attack on Serbia can lead to world war. [Any general conflagration] however it ends [will lead] to a revolution of all existing conditions. ... The future belongs to Russia which grows and grows, looming above us as an increasingly terrifying nightmare. ... Perhaps the old Emperor [Francis Joseph] will prefer not to fight after all. If war comes from the east so that we have to fight for Austria-Hungary and not Austria-Hungary for us, we have a chance of winning. ... [I]f war does not break out, if the Tsar is unwilling or France, alarmed, counsels peace, we have the prospect of splitting the Entente."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg
1856 – 1921
29 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg →
Related Quotes
"If war is forced upon us, we shall fight and, with God's help, not perish. But to conjure up a war ourselves without …"
"We must keep France in check through a cautious policy towards Russia and England. Naturally this does not please our…"
"Political friendships are political business transactions and in political, as in economic life, business transaction…"
"If we succeed not only in keeping France itself quiet, but also in having it plead for peace in Petersburg, this turn…"
"We must maintain Austria proper. Were Russia to unleash the South Slavs, we would be lost. ... If the Serbian quarrel…"
"Should war break out, it will result from Russian mobilization ab irato, before possible negotiations. In that case w…"
"It is improbable that England will immediately enter the fray."
"As long as Russia does not commit a hostile act, I believe that our stand, directed towards localization, must remain…"
"Should they be confirmed, we would be forced to take countermeasures against our will. Even today we try to localize …"
"Like you, I believe our most urgent task is a modus vivendi with England. In the last analysis even Morocco was inten…"