WWI anniversary: the road to war – in tweets

I am most anxious not to miss any possibility of avoiding the terrible calamity which at present threatens the whole world.

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) August 1, 2014

The extracts, taken from the National Archives, started on 28 July, the day Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, and are continuing though the 100th anniversary of Britain joining the war.

The key British protagonists are:

• Foreign Secretary Edward Grey
• Ambassador in Paris Sir Francis Bertie
• Foreign Office Permanent Under-Secretary Sir Arthur Nicholson
• Foreign Office Assistant Under Secretary of State Sir Eyre Crowe
• Ambassador in Berlin Sir Edward Goschen
• Ambassador in St petersburg Sir George Buchanan
• Ambassador in Austria Sir M de Bunsen
• Minister to Belgium Sir Francis Villiers
• Charge d’Affaires in Belgrade Dayrell Crackanthorpe
• Consul-General in Budapest WG Max Muller
• Vice-consul in Sarajevo JF Jones

Channel 4 News will update the highlighted tweets below throughout the day. To follow the FCO tweets, click here.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated

News received here heir apparent and his consort assassinated this morning by means of an explosive nature.

— J.F. Jones (@WW1Jones) June 28, 2014

1/2 to de Bunsen: Please convey to Minister for Foreign Affairs the grief with which HMG have heard of the terrible event at Sarajevoâ?¦

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) June 29, 2014

2/2 and expressions of their profound sympathy with the Imperial Family and the Dual Monarchy in the grievous loss which they have suffered.

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) June 29, 2014

Violent anti-Serbian demonstration has taken place on the part of loyal Croats and Moslem population.

— J.F. Jones (@WW1Jones) June 29, 2014

The road to war

Serbian Press is behaving shamefully; they seem inclined to regard the assassins as martyrs, sacrificed in a holy cause.

— Sir M. de Bunsen (@WW1deBunsen) July 3, 2014

Germany is in a difficult position: wary of disappointing Austria but allowing events to take their course means chance of serious trouble.

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) July 6, 2014

The German ambassador reports privately that the Austrians want humiliation for Serbia – military action is not impossible.

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) July 6, 2014

Russian ambassador here believes a Serbian war will mean a general European war – Russia would be compelled to defend Serbia.

— Sir M. de Bunsen (@WW1deBunsen) July 9, 2014

Austrian ambassador explained privately that a communication to Serbia was being delivered today.

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) July 23, 2014

The note would include proof of complicity by Serbian officials in the plot to murder the Archduke and a list of demands made by Austria.

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) July 23, 2014

It seems to me that the only chance of peace is for Germany, France, Italy and ourselves to join in to endeavour to arrange matters.

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) July 25, 2014

Reply to Austrian note now being drawn up at Council of Ministers in most conciliatory terms possible. 10 points are accepted with reserves.

— DayrellCrackanthorpe (@WW1Crackanthorp) July 25, 2014

Preliminary preparations for Russian mobilisation to begin at once but she would take no action until it was forced on her.

— Sir George Buchanan (@WW1Buchanan) July 25, 2014

Serbian reply is not considered satisfactory and the Austro-Hungarian Minister has left Belgrade. War is thought to be imminent.

— Sir M. de Bunsen (@WW1deBunsen) July 26, 2014

Austria Hungary goes to war

After conversations with all my colleagues of the Great Powers, I believe that Austria-Hungary is fully determined on war with Serbia.

— Sir M. de Bunsen (@WW1deBunsen) July 27, 2014

Telegram received here that war declared by Austria.

— DayrellCrackanthorpe (@WW1Crackanthorp) July 28, 2014

Austrians claim they cannot delay warlike proceedings against Serbia, and decline any suggestion of negotiations on basis of Serbian reply.

— Sir M. de Bunsen (@WW1deBunsen) July 28, 2014

Escalation

Following from Consulate, Danzig, 29th July: ‘German cruiser ‘Magdeburg’ left for Kiel yesterday at 8 in the morning.’

— Sir Edward Goschen (@WW1Goschen) July 29, 2014

Should Germany and France become involved, we should have to decide what British interests required us to do: we were free from engagements.

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) July 29, 2014

Privately I told the German Ambassador he should not be misled into thinking that we would stand aside if France & Germany become involved.

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) July 29, 2014

Order for partial mobilisation by Russia was signed to-day. Mobilisation would only be directed against Austria.

— Sir George Buchanan (@WW1Buchanan) July 29, 2014

Germany practically admits the intention to violate Belgian neutrality. It is clear that Germany is practically determined to go to war.

— Sir Eyre Crowe (@WW1Crowe) July 30, 2014

Inform German Chancellor that his proposal that we should bind ourselves to neutrality on such terms cannot for a moment be entertained.

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) July 30, 2014

He asks us in effect to stand by while French colonies are taken and France is beaten so long as Germany does not take French territory.

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) July 30, 2014

Such a proposal is unacceptable; France could be so crushed as to lose her position as a Great Power and become subordinate to German…

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) July 30, 2014

For us to make this bargain at the expense of France would be a disgrace from which the good name of this country would never recover.

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) July 30, 2014

Military attaché has heard report that bodies of troops are being conveyed by rail to both eastern and western frontiers of Germany.

— Sir Edward Goschen (@WW1Goschen) July 30, 2014

Germany declares war on Russia

German vessels have been warned to be ready to leave Russian waters at 24 hours’ notice.

— Sir George Buchanan (@WW1Buchanan) July 31, 2014

Chancellor informs me that he has just received news to the effect that Russia is now taking military measures on the German frontier.

— Sir Edward Goschen (@WW1Goschen) July 31, 2014

German Emperor has proclaimed a ‘condition of imminent danger’. This proclamation is understood to be natural precursor to mobilisation.

— Sir Edward Goschen (@WW1Goschen) July 31, 2014

Russia has decided to issue orders for general mobilisation.

— Sir George Buchanan (@WW1Buchanan) July 31, 2014

German Ambassador handed to Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs formal declaration of war this evening at 7 o’clock.

— Sir George Buchanan (@WW1Buchanan) August 1, 2014

Germany declares war on France

German Foreign Minister states that all French news respecting German troops crossing French frontier are complete fabrications.

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) August 3, 2014

French Foreign Minister denies that 80 French officers disguised in German uniforms attempted to cross the German frontier in motor cars.

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) August 3, 2014

German ultimatum states France intends to invade Germany through Belgium and she will be unable to repel French attack without assistance.

— Sir Francis Villiers (@WW1Villiers) August 3, 2014

Belgium refuses to believe her independence can only be preserved by violation of neutrality & resolves to repel all attacks on her rights.

— Sir Francis Villiers (@WW1Villiers) August 3, 2014

France is avoiding a premature advance in case Germans should be luring them into being the first seriously to violate Belgian neutrality.

— Sir Francis Villiers (@WW1Villiers) August 3, 2014

HMG are also informed that the German Government has delivered to the Belgium Government a note proposing friendly neutrality.

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) August 4, 2014

We also understand that Belgium has categorically refused this as a flagrant violation of the law of nations.

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) August 4, 2014

It is officially stated here that German troops occupied Luxemburg this morning.

— Sir Edward Goschen (@WW1Goschen) August 4, 2014

Britain heads towards war

We are informed that Belgian territory has been violated at Gemmenich.

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) August 4, 2014

In these circumstances, and the fact that Germany declined to give the same assurance respecting Belgium as France gave last week…

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) August 4, 2014

â?¦we must repeat that request, and ask that a satisfactory reply to it be received here by 12 o’clock tonight.

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) August 4, 2014

If not, you are instructed to ask for your passports & say we feel bound to take all steps in our power to uphold the neutrality of Belgium.

— Sir Edward Grey (@WW1Grey) August 4, 2014