On Monday in the Commons Sir Edward Grey explained the
position of the Government in the Austro-Servian crisis.
So long as the dispute was between Austria-Hungary and Servia alone Great Britain had no title to interfere, but if Russia were drawn in, the question would be one of the peace of Europe. He had told the Austrian Ambassador that if
this happened the only chance of peace seemed to be that the four Powers—Germany, France, Italy, and Great Britain—
should try to induce Austria-Hungary and Russia to sus- pend military operations while the four Powers tried to arrange a settlement. When be had learnt that Austria- Hungary had actually broken off relations with Servia, he immediately tried to bring about a conference of the four Powers in London. He had been compelled to act rapidly and without the usual precaution of making preliminary inquiries as to whether his proposal was likely to be welcomed.
He added :—
" It must be obvious to any person who reflects upon the situation that the moment the dispute ceases to be one between Austria-Hungary and Servia and becomes one in which another Great Power is involved, it can but end in the greatest catastrophe that has ever befallen the Continent of Europe at one blow ; no one can say what would be the limit of the issues that might be raised by such a conflict; the consequences of it, direct and indirect, would be incalculable."
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