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The Ultimatum:
(Preamble) The Royal Serbian Government . . . has[since 1909] tolerated the criminal machinations of various societies and associations directed against the [Austro-Hungarian] Monarchy, unrestrained language on the part of the press, glorification of the perpetrators of outrages, participation of officers and officials in subversive agitation, unwholesome propaganda in public education, in short tolerated all the manifestations of a nature to inculcate in the Serbian population hatred of the Monarchy and contempt for its institutions . . .
It is shown by the depositions and confessions of the criminal authors of the outrage of 28 June that the Sarajevo murders [of the Archduke and his wife] were planned in Belgrade [capital of Serbia], that the arms and explosives with which the murderers were found to be provided had been given them by Serbian officers and officials belonging to the Narodna Odbrana [a Serbia-based nationalist organization promoting the ideal of a Greater Serbia, i.e., the political union of Bosnia and Serbia] and finally that the passage into Bosnia of the criminals and their arms was organized and effectuated by chiefs of the Serbian frontier service.
. . . the results . . impose on [the A-H Monarchy] the duty of putting an end to the intrigues which constitute a permanent threat to the tranquillity of the Monarchy.
In order to give a formal character to this undertaking the Royal Government of Serbia shall cause to be published on the front page of the Official Journal [i.e., the Serbian government gazette] of the 26 July the following declaration:
[Serbia] condemns the propaganda directed against Austria-Hungary . . . and it sincerely deplores the fatal consequences of these criminal proceedings
[Serbia] considers it its duty formally to warn the officers, officials and all the population of the Kingdom that henceforward it will proceed with the utmost rigor against all persons who may render themselves guilty [of participating in anti-Austrian propaganda] . . .
The Royal Serbian Government further undertakes:
To suppress any publication which incites to hatred and contempt of the Monarchy . . .
To dissolve immediately the society styled Narodna Odbrana . . and to proceed in the same manner against the other societies . . which engage in propaganda against [Austria]
To eliminate without delay from public instruction in Serbia, both as regards the teaching body and the methods of instruction, all that serves or might serve to foment the propaganda against Austria-Hungary
To remove from the military service and the administration in general all officers guilty of propaganda against [Austria--names to be given over by the Austrian govt.]
To accept the collaboration in Serbia of organs of [A-H govt.] in the suppression of the subversive movement directed against the territorial integrity of the Monarchy
To take judicial proceedings against the accessories to the plot of 28 June who are on Serbian territory; Organs delegated by [A-H] will take part in the investigations relating thereto
To proceed without delay to the arrest of [two named persons implicated according to the preliminary investigation undertaken by Austria]
To prevent by effective measures the cooperation of [Serbia] in the illicit traffic in arms and explosives across the frontier . . . .
To furnish [Austria] with explanations regarding the unjustifiable utterances of high Serbian officials both in Serbia and abroad, who . . .have not hesitated since the outrage of 28 June to express themselves . .in terms of hostility towards [Austria]
To notify [Austria] without delay of the execution of the[se] measures . .
also serbian response
Preamble)
. . .[Serbia] cannot be held responsible for manifestations of a private character, such as articles in the press and the peaceable work of societies . . .[The Serbian government] have been pained and surprised at the statements, according to which members of the Kingdom of Serbia are supposed to have participated in the preparations of the crime . .[However, Serbia is] prepared to hand over for trial any Serbian subject . .of whose complicity in the crime of sarajevo proofs are forthcoming [as well as officially condemn all propaganda against A-H]
[Serbia will] introduce . . a provision into the press law providing for the most severe punishment of incitement to hatred and contempt of the [A-H] Monarchy . . .
[The Serbian govt.] possesses no proof . . that the Narodna Odbrana and other similar societies have committed up to the present any criminal act of this nature . . Nevertheless, [Serbia] will . . dissolve the Narodna Obrana and every other society which . . .
[Serbia will] eliminate without delay from public instruction . . everything that serves or might serve to foment the propaganda against [A-H], whenever [Austria] furnish them with facts and proofs . .
[Serbia] also agree to remove from the military service all such persons as the judicial inquiry may have proved to be guilty of acts directed against the integrity of the territory of [A-H], and they expect [Austria] to communicate . .the names and acts of these officers for the purpose of the proceedings which are to be taken against them
[The Serbian govt. does] not clearly grasp the meaning or the scope of the demand . . that Serbia shall undertake to accept the collaboration of the representatives of [A-H], but they declare that they will admit such collaboration as agrees with the principle of international law, with criminal procedure, and with good neighborly relations
. . . As regards the participation in this inquiry [which Serbia intends to hold] of Austro-Hungarian agents.......... [Serbia] cannot accept such an arrangement, as it would be a violation of the Constitution . . .
[states it has not yet been possible to arrest one of the persons named; request proofs of guilt from Austria]
[ agrees to reinforce measures against illegal trafficking of arms and explosives across the frontier with Bosnia-Herzegovine]
[offers explanations of anti-Austrian comments by Serb officials if Austria sends examples of their actually having been made]
[Serbia will duly notify the measures taken, but if Austria is not satisfied with the reply] the Serbian government . . are ready . . to accept a pacific understanding, either by referring this question to the decision of the International Tribunal of the Hague [i.e., the World Court], or to the Great Powers . . .
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