OF INTERIOR; WILLIAM C.
REDFIELD, SEC.

OF COMMERCE.] With a war likely to involve the greater part of Europe hanging on the issue, it was a time for cool judgment, sober statesmanship and careful action on all sides.

Months should have been devoted to an investigation.
But Germany and Austria did not want a sober investigation.

They were afraid that while it was proceeding the pretext for war might vanish.

As surmised above, they also may have feared that the responsibility for the act would be placed in quarters that would be embarrassing to them.
On July 23, 1914, just twenty-five days after the murder, Austria delivered her demands upon Serbia and placed a time limit of forty-eight hours for their acceptance.