25 July 1914 (II) On July 25, 1914, in Russia, measures were decided for a partial mobilization of four districts (the "preparation period for war"), which came into force early on July 26. Much has been talked about this initial decision by historians who attribute responsibility for the war on Russia. However, as Russian military commanders struggled to emphasize, this mobilization did not make war inevitable, although it is fair to say that the decision to start the preparation period for war "was the first Russian movement down [the] slippery slope" to war. At the same time, the Russian government was willing to support Britain's mediation proposals and also pressured the British to decide whether they would participate in a possible war on the side of the Franco-Russian alliance. The prospect of Russia's support was a great relief to Prime Minister Nikola Pašić in Belgrade, and it has been argued that Serbia's rejection of parts of the ultimatum m...