Wangenheim now told me that the Kaiser solemnly put the
question to each man in. turn: Was he ready for war? All
replied "Yes" except the financiers. They said that they must
have two weeks to sell their foreign securities and to make
loans. At that time few people had looked upon the Serajevo
tragedy as something that was likely to cause war. This con-
ference took all precautions that no such suspicion should be
aroused. It decided to give the bankers time to readjust their
finances for the coming war, and then the several members
went quietly back to their work or started on vacations. The
Kaiser went to Norway on his yacht, von Bethmann Hollweg
left for a rest, and Wangenheim returned to Constantinople.
In telling me about this conference, Wangenheim, of course,
admitted that Germany had precipitated the war. I think
that he was rather proud of the whole performance; proud
that Germany had gone about the matter in so methodical
and far-seeing a way; especially proud that he himself had
been invited to participate in so momentous a gathering.
. . . Whenever I hear people arguing about the responsi-
bility for this war or read the clumsy and lying excuses put
forth by Germany, I simply recall the burly figure of Wangen-
heim as he appeared that August afternoon, puffing away at a
huge black cigar, and giving me his account of this historic
meeting. Why waste any time discussing the matter after
that? . ..
