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source 6 Transcript    Useful notes 
Letter from the British ambassador in France on the French attitude to the international situation, 30 July 1914
(Catalogue ref: FO 800/55 f.129-30)
  6a   6b   6c              
  6a   6b   6c              
FO 800/55; letter from British ambassador on French attitude, 1914

How to use this source:

Study this source carefully. There are details in this source that will help you to answer the key question. As you study the source, ask yourself:

  • According to the French, why is Britain so important in terms of stopping Germany starting a war?
  • Why was it so difficult for Britain to fully support France and Russia over the quarrel between Austria and Serbia?
  • How is the writer criticising the French and Russians?
  • Do the French seem to think war is inevitable?
  • Five days after this letter, Britain declared war on Germany. Does this letter give the impression that war is so close?

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