Could the Kaiser destroy the Tsardom in 1905 without war?

Recently, I have begun reading Stephen Kotkin's biography of Stalin, and in the section about the police crackdown after 1905, I encountered the following remarkable passage:

RUSSIA’S AUTOCRACY had undergone a near-death experience. Altogether, an army of nearly 300,000, a size close to the land force that had battled the Japanese, was needed to suppress domestic unrest. Such a vast mobilization for repression and regime survival would have been impossible had Russia’s foes on its western flank, Germany and Austria-Hungary, decided to take what would have been easy advantage of the situation. Not even an actual attack from the West, merely a mobilization, would have paralyzed and likely doomed the tsarist regime.

For that he cites William Fuller's book "Strategy and Power", pg 138-139. Not having that book, I was unable to investigate further, but it's a striking thought. A mobilization by Germany or AH would demand a mobilization from Russia, which would then be hard pressed to meet the challenge of its restive population. It may well have collapsed the entire structure of Tsarist power, or at least deepened the concessions to the reformers.

Why, then, didn't either of them do that? Was it the famous inflexibility of the Schlieffen Plan, that once set into motion, could not be stopped, thus making a "warning" mobilization impossible? Were they afraid of the effect such a successful uprising might have on their own population? Or did they simply not realize the opportunity until it was past?

Furthermore, let us suppose they DO perceive the opportunity, and do mobilize. Can they stop at the brink, paralyzing the Tsar against internal foes without causing a general war? Or would war break out? And if the Tsar is forced to abdicate to a Russian Republic or accept a merely advisory role in a truly constitutional monarchy, has Germany's position really improved? A democratic Russia would have fewer internal stresses than an autocratic one, by my mark, and will still be Germany's geopolitical rival.

Interested to hear what people think.
 
I am not sure Germany looked at Russia like some sworn certain enemy in 1905. Like just then if they could direct the Russians attention to the far east so much the better. Russia's border with Germany and Austria is 1815 Congress of Vienna so not in dispute, plus its still pretty early in the Balkans, much is still Turkish controlled, so disputes there haven't maximized.

Plus as you say I am not sure if Germany wants a more democratic Russia.

a) Mobilization costs Germany a bunch of money.
b) There is no particular cause, other than just being a dick to Russia at a time of weakness. With family times and all not sure Wilhelm would do that. (perhaps though the 1905 Morocco crisis could be used as an excuse to mobilize)
c) And I am not sure Austria would go along.

However, its still an interesting thought, lets say it happens, I see if Germany mobilizes, Russia could:
a) Just do nothing until Germany actually invades (mobilization only gives Germany a 3 day head start anyway).
b) The Czar is forced to make more concessions and then mobilizes.
c) Ask Germany what it wants to stop mobilization (and there is no good answer)

The risk, most probable, is that Russia treats Germany like a permanent enemy from then on, vs just another rival, Germany didn't want that, would prefer Russia to get back into disputes with Britain and Japan.
The possible reward is pretty vague, Russia could be stronger, could be weaker.
 
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