ocialistic programs, religious scruples and humanitarian ideals were of no avail." Holger H. Herwig, in summarizing the scholarship since 1960 on the origins of the First World War, has concluded the following: "In the final analysis, one can attribute responsibility--to be sure, not sole responsibility--for the war with some meausre of certainty. The regicide at Sarajrvo was inspired and supported by Serbian military intelligence, and thus Belgrade must shoulder a good measure of responsibility. Second, Austria-Hungary made the conscious decision to launch a Balkan war in order to reduce Serbia to the status of at best a "semi-protectorate," and to appeal to its ally in Berlin for supportin case the Austro-Serbian conflict escalated into a general European war. Unfortunately, Austria-Hungary's culpability for the start of the First World War has been overshadowed for far too long...The greatest measure of responsibility, however, remains with Germany. Planners, both civilian and military, were all too eager to resolve their perceived diplomatic encirclement by use of force -- "now or never," as Kaiser Wilhelm II put it." Chronology of Events, 1904-19131904 (February 8) Outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War (April 8) Anglo-French entente1905 (September 6) Treaty of Portsmouth ending Russo-Japanese War 1906 (January 16) First Moroccan Crisis (Algeciras Conference opens) (7 April) Algeciras Act signed1907 (August 31) Anglo-Russian convention 1908 (October 6) Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia and Hercegovina 1911(July 1) Second Moroccan Crisis (Ger. Panther to Agadir) (September 29) Italy declares war on Turkey (November 4) Agadir accord over Morocco1912 (February 8-11) Haldane Mission to Berlin (March, May) Balkan League formed (July 22) Anglo-French Mediterranean naval reorganization (October 15) Treaty of Ouchy (ends Italo-Turkish War) (October 17) First Balkan War breaks out (December 8) Potsdam "war council" convened by Wilhelm II 1913 (May...
