7 July 1914

100 years ago today: today’s leading news stories cover the Amending Bill which was passed in the House of Lords and the funeral of Joseph Chamberlain.  With regards to the debate on the Amending Bill, Lord Curzon notes in his speech: “We are driven… to the odious alternative of providing for partition as the sole means of escape from the still worse alternative of bloodshed.” The amendments propose to remove “the whole of the Province of Ulster from the authority of the Irish Parliament” but it is hoped that leaders on both sides will unite to try and secure peace.

6 July 1914

100 years ago today: two funerals feature in today’s newspaper.  The first is that of of Joseph Chamberlain – described as being a “simple ceremony”.  The second; that of the Archduke and his wife caused some upset amongst the aristocracy due to the simple plans for the burial (caused by the Duchess being of much lesser rank than her husband).  Just as the service was starting, “a terrible storm commenced” preventing the coffins being taken to the Castle of Arstetten and the service took place in the railway station waiting room.  The storm recommenced “with increased violence” as the service ended.

Week of 29 June 1914 – 4 July 1914

100 years ago this week: the first part of the week focused on the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo and the anti-Servian demonstrations that occurred in Sarajevo and Vienna as a result.  There is concern that these events may pose a danger to the fragile peace of Europe but this view is later discredited.  By mid-week, this had slipped further down the headlines and matters closer to home were the focus – the debate in the House of Lords on the Government of Ireland Bill, the King’s visit to Shrewsbury and the death of Joseph Chamberlain. 

4 July 1914

100 years ago today: the main news story covers the death of politician Joseph Chamberlain, father of Austen and Neville Chamberlain, who was  described as “a fount of inspiration” and “the very embodiment of his country”.  A mansion in County Down was destroyed in a fire started by suffragettes – the third mansion in the Belfast area to be destroyed in this manner and “the feeling in the city against Suffragists is becoming very strong”.  The funeral of the Archduke and his wife has taken place.  There have been anti-Servian riots in Vienna with over 50,000 people taking part in demonstrations.

3 July 1914

100 years ago today: today’s leading articles focus on country towns and the centenary of the novel “Waverley” by Sir Walter Scott.  There are articles about the continuing debate in the House of Lords, the King’s visit to Shrewsbury, the thunderstorms which have helped break the heatwave in London and the murder of a patient in a doctor’s surgery.  The German Emperor has an attack of lumbago which has prevented him from attending the funeral of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.  There are further details about the plot to assassinate the Archduke and martial law continues to be in force in Bosnia.

2 July 1914

100 years ago today: the leading article in the Telegraph focuses on the debate in the House of Lords on an amendment to the Government of Ireland Bill.  The Royal Navy will be carrying out an exercise in which the whole fleet is put on a war footing between 17th and 25th July.  London is experiencing a heatwave with the previous day being the hottest for three years.  The confession of the Archduke’s assassin is reported on as is the Archduke’s brother’s request for permission to attend the funeral.  There is a brief mention of an anti-Servian demonstration in Vienna.

1 July 1914

100 years ago today: the Telegraph reports on breaking the news of the Archduke’s and his wife’s deaths to their children.  In Bosnia, excitement “against their Servian co-citizens is growing in a dangerous manner” and “Sarajevo looks like the scene of a pogrom”.  However, we are reassured that:

“The position taken up by the Austrian press with regards to the revelations from Sarajevo… is quiet and measured.  It is almost without exception that those opinions are discredited that consider that the murder of the Archduke might be the excuse for new serious political complications, or even for war with Servia.”