I chanced to be in Vienna, where I had an interview with Berchtold who spoke of the situation with much concern and complained that the Archduke was acting in a warlike spirit.

I offered to draw the Archduke's attention to the danger of the proceeding, and put myself in telegraphic communication with him.

I arranged to join his train that same day when he passed through Wessely on his way to Konopischt.

I only had the short time between the two stations for my conversation.

I therefore at once took the bull by the horns and told him of the rumours current about him in Vienna and of the danger of promoting a conflict with Russia by too strong action in the Balkans.
I did not meet with the slightest opposition from the Archduke, and in his usual expeditious way he wrote, while still in the train, a telegram to Berchtold in which he expressed his perfect agreement in maintaining a friendly attitude and repudiated all the reports of his having been opposed to it.