Thursday, July 23

Austria presented a Note to Servia demanding reparation for the murder of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the Duchess of Hohenberg in the previous June, on the ground that the murder was planned in Servia, although committed by an Austrian subject on Austrian territory, in Bosnia. Austria accused Servia of anti-Austrian propaganda since 1909 after Austria annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina, hitherto 'protected' States. The Note demanded an apology to be published in the Servian official Gazette and read to the Servian army; the suppression of various anti-Austrian societies; the punishment of Servians implicated in the murder-plot and the propaganda... and permission for Austrian officials to take part in Servia in the uprooting of the entire anti-Austrian propaganda. The Note was couched in peremptory language and a reply requested before 6 p.m. on Saturday July 25.

Very little interest was taken by the English public who thought it was the usual Balkan trouble that would settle down.

Austria, German and Italy formed the Triple Alliance.
Russia, France and Great Britain formed the Triple Entente.
Great Britain and Japan were also allied.

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