Читать книгу Over Here and Over There - Harry Bobonich - Страница 9

Just think of how unlikely it is that two men--Nicky and Willy--who were cousins might have been able to prevent WWI. Over a century ago, Tsar Nicholas (Nicky) II of Russia and Kaiser Wilhelm (Willy) II of Germany exchanged a series of telegrams in an attempt to stop a war that just started.

They began their correspondence shortly after midnight on July 28, 1914, after Austria-Hungary had already declared war on Serbia. There was still time to find a diplomatic solution, but time was of the essence.

Nicky wrote:

In this serious moment, I appeal to you to help me. An ignoble war has been declared to a weak country. The indignation in Russia shared fully by me is enormous. I foresee that very soon I shall be overwhelmed by the pressure forced upon me and be forced to take extreme measures which will lead to war. To try and avoid such a calamity as a European war I beg you in the name of our friendship to do what you can to stop your allies from going too far. Nicky.

It was the first of ten telegrams the two monarchs sent to each other suggesting various proposals to resolve the dire situation; however, matters only got worse. Early on August 1, the exchange of telegrams came to an abrupt halt. That evening Germany’s ambassador in Russia presented the Russian foreign minister a declaration of war. The die was cast: a full-blown global war was now underway.

An American journalist found the telegrams in the Russian archives in 1919. Unfortunately, the last minute efforts of Nicky and Willy failed. But what if they had more time and also had been more dedicated statesmen—WWI might not have occurred. Ironically, by the end of the global conflict the Tsar and the Kaiser both would lose. (Allison 2014)