Keizer Wilhelm II van Duitsland (rechts) met (links) de Oosterijkse troonopvolger aartshertog Franz Ferdinand (vermoord in Serajevo 1914.
“The conflict between Serbia and Austria nearly broke out in the autumn of 1913, when Serbian troops infiltrated into Northern Albania. Austria sent an ultimatum on 18 October, demanding Serb withdrawal from Albania within a week. On this occasion Serbia complied to the letter and announced on 25 October that the troops had withdrawn. At a tea party in the German embassy in Vienna in his honour on 26 October, kaiser William II told Berchtold, the Austrian Foreign Minister that “Panslavism and with it Russia have played their role in the Balkans, but simultaneously the Slavic states have been strengthened in an fashion that gives Germany and Austria pause to think. The war between East and West cannot be avoided indefinitely and if Austria-Hungary is then open to an attack in the flank by a respectable military power, this could have a fateful influence on the struggle of the nations … The Slavs were not born to rule but to serve. This they must be taught … You can be certain I stand behind you and am ready to draw the sword whenever your action makes it necessary … whatever comes from Vienna is for me a command.”
[St. Constant, Foxy Ferdinand. Tsar of Bulgaria (Londen 1979), p. 289]