The Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, nephew of the aged emperor and heir to the throne, was assassinated in the streets of Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital, yesterday afternoon. His wife, the Duchess of Hohenberg, was killed by the same assassin. Some reports say the duchess was deliberately shielding her husband from the second shot when she was killed. One victim was struck in the body and the other in the face; the telegrams are contradictory about which wound the archduke suffered and which his wife.
Two attempts were made on the archduke's life during the day. He was in Bosnia directing the manoeuvres of the Austrian Army Corps stationed in the province, and had devoted yesterday to a procession through the capital. During the morning a bomb was thrown at the imperial motor-car, but its occupants escaped unhurt.
In the afternoon in another part of the town a Serb student fired a revolver at the car, killing both the archduke and the auchess.
Bosnia and Herzegovina have been in Austrian occupation since 1878, when the Treaty of Berlin authorised the dual monarchy to hold the two provinces. In 1908 Austria, without consulting the other parties to the treaty, annexed the occupied territory. Austria-Hungary is, as a result of territorial divisions and constitutional differences, ruled partly by the Germans and partly by the Magyars. The Slavs, who are a great majority of the people, numbering 22,500,000 against 11,000,000 Germans and 9,000,000 Magyars, remain indignantly hostile to such a political system.
Sarajevo, 6pm: The assassin of the archduke and his wife is a student named Gavrilo Prinzip. He is 19 and was born at Grahovo, in the district of Livno. He studied for some time in Belgrade. Prinzip declared he had intended for a long time to kill some eminent personage from nationalist motives. He made his attempt where the car had to slacken speed when turning into Francis Joseph Strasse. As the duchess was in the car he hesitated, but afterwards quickly fired two shots. The archduke was regarded in certain Serbian quarters as one of the greatest opponents of the pan-Serbian movement.
· Manchester Guardian, June 29 1914
Chancellor Lloyd George later recalls a timely warning ...
"I remember that some time in July, an influential Hungarian lady called upon me at 11 Downing Street and told me that we were taking the assassination of the archduke much too quietly; that it had provoked such a storm throughout the Austrian Empire as she had never witnessed - and that unless something were done immediately, it would certainly result in war with Serbia, with the incalculable consequences which such an operation might precipitate in Europe. However, such official reports as came to hand did not seem to justify the alarmist view she took.
· The War Memoirs of David Lloyd George (Nicholson & Watson, 1933-38)
Austria's warning to Serbia
A semi-official communiqué issued in Budapest warns Serbia that although Austria-Hungary does not desire a war with Serbia, she expects the Serbian government to fulfil all those obligations in connection with "the crime which was undoubtedly promoted in Belgrade".
The Austrian emperor, Francis Joseph, has addressed letters to the Austrian and Hungarian premiers expressing the grief caused him by the death of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, and his determination to follow the way which he knows to be right to his last breath for the welfare of his peoples. He has also issued a proclamation to the army and navy couched in similar language:
"We bow in grief before the will of the Almighty, who has demanded an immeasurable sacrifice from me, from my forces and our Fatherland. Nevertherless, I do not give up hope of a prosperous future, convinced that, in every trial, the monarchy will find its sure refuge in the devotion even to death of the Austro-Hungarian forces, which nothing can shake from their loyalty."
Budapest, Saturday: The Pester Lloyd [German-language daily newspaper] publishes the following communique: "Austria-Hungary does not desire a war with Serbia, but is justified in expecting that Serbia should in every respect fulfil the duties of an honourable neighbour. The tone which the semi-official newspaper Samouprava adopts in discussing relations with our monarchy is a sad proof that the Serbian government is unacquainted with the most elementary principles of international courtesy. We can only advise Belgrade to make an immediate change in this respect, and to take care to fulfil honourably all those obligations which are incumbent upon the Serbian government in connection with the crime, which was undoubtedly promoted in Belgrade."
From our own correspondent, Berlin: Germany is shaken by the crime of Sarajevo. Its consequences to the Fatherland are second only to those which must inevitably accrue to Austria-Hungary itself. Will the dual monarchy be as trustworthy an ally without the strong hand of Archduke Francis Ferdinand guiding the army and navy? That is the question uppermost in the German mind.
I was at Kjel when the news of the murder reached the kaiser. What everyone said, when the shock had worn away, was that perhaps the disappearance of Austria's "war lord" might be a blessing in disguise for peace in general and Germany in particular. All the world knows it was William II who restrained Francis Ferdinand's hand at the time of the Serbian imbroglio a year or two ago.
But these eminent personages' second thoughts were that Germany had suffered truly incalculable loss in the man who had practically created a new Austrian-Hungarian army and navy. Will the work he had started go on? Will his ideals of military efficiency continue to take precedence over internal political bickerings in the parliaments of Vienna and Budapest?
How the Germans will confront the new contingency which has arisen will well be worth the watching.
· Manchester Guardian, July 5 1914
The Chancellor nails his colours to the mast ...
"If a situation were to be forced upon us in which peace could only be preserved by the surrender of the great and beneficient position Britain has won by centuries of heroism and achievement, by allowing Britain to be treated where her interests were vitally affected as if she were of no account in the cabinet of nations, then I say emphatically that peace at that price would be a humiliation intolerable for a great country like ours to endure."
· David Lloyd George speaking at Mansion House, July 21 1911
... and Germany reacts fiercely
We found Sir Edward Grey in his room at the House of Commons. His first words were: "I have just received a communication from the German ambassador so stiff that the fleet might be attacked at any moment!" ... The ambassador had said that, after the speech of the chancellor of the exchequer, no explanation could be made by Germany. In acrid terms he had stated that if France should repel the hand offered her by the emperor's government, the dignity of Germany would compel her to secure by all means full respect by France for German treaty rights.
Sir Edward Grey thought it right to reply that the tone of this communication rendered it inconsistent with the dignity of his majesty's government to give explanations. They sound so very cautious and correct, these deadly words. Soft, quiet voices purring courteous, grave, exactly-measured phrases in large peaceful rooms. But with less warning, cannons had opened fire, and nations had been struck down by this same Germany.
· From The World Crisis, 1911-1918, by Winston Churchill. Reproduced with permission of Curtis Brown Ltd on behalf of the estate of Winston Churchill. © Winston S Churchill
· This article was amended on Thursday November 13 2008. Lloyd George gave his Mansion House speech warning that Britain would not tolerate interference in its international interests in 1911, not 1914. This has been corrected.