vi tious scheme of world-domination, of which the Servian agitation is only an incident, is the possession of the Dardanelles. Such an ac- quisition would make Russia predominant in the Near East, with ex- clusive political and commercial privileges. Since the attainment of this purpose constituted a menace to the vital interests of both Austria-Hungary and Germany, it was bound to rouse their opposition; Russia’s efforts were consequently directed toward weakening their capacity for resistance. This was to be attained by disrupting the powerful combination of the two countries which stood in Russia’s way, and by isolating Germany. The first move was the creation of the Balkan League, designed to weaken Austria-Hungary, whose foundations as a great power were to be undermined by the Pan-Slav and Servian agitation in her border districts. Asa preliminary step Turkey had to be crushed and driven out of Europe. By this act the power of the augmented Christian Balkan States was to be made available for Russia's struggle against the two central European powers. When the Balkan League was rent asunder by the dispute over the distribution of the territories wrested from Turkey, the ‘‘protect- ing power” of the Slavs assented to the defeat and humiliation of Bulgaria, who was deprived of the greater part of her recent con- quests. New inducements were now offered for the reconstitution of the Balkan League by the promise of territorial expansion at the expense of Austria-Hungary. After the defeat of Turkey, the Balkan Federation could be directed solely against Austria-Hungary and Germany. Russia and France conceived this plan, which was to shift Europe’s balance of power. In this criminal game of Russian diplo- macy, which theatened the peace of Europe and the existence of the Dual Monarchy, Servia was a trump card in Russia’s hand, and Russia was determined not to lose this trump, even at the cost of a universal conflagration. The following series of documents show that, up to the very last, the Imperial and Roya! Government repeatedly assured the St. Peters- burg cabinet that it did not intend to violate any Russian interest, or to seize Servian territory, or to infringe upon Servia’s sovereign rights, and that it was willng to enter into negotiations with the Russian goverment for the adjustment of Austro-Hungarian and Russian interests. These solemn assurances, however, did not satisfy the Russian government which, as early as the 24th of July, adopted a threatening tone in a public statement on the issues involved. Though Austria-Hungary had not mobilized a single soldier against Russia, the latter ordered on July 29th a mobilization of the military districts of Odessa, Kieff, Moscow and Kazan, which implied a threat against the Dual Monarchy. In spite of the repeated warn- ings of the Imperial and Royal Ambassador in St. Petersburg and