Prime Minister Asquith Explains Its Nature in House of Commons, Aug. 4,
1914.
_Mr. Bonar Law_--I wish to ask the Prime Minister whether he has any
statement that he can now make to the House?
_The Prime Minister_ (_Mr. Asquith_)--In conformity with the statement
of policy made here by my right honorable friend the Foreign Secretary
yesterday, a telegram was early this morning sent by him to our
Ambassador in Berlin. It was to this effect:
The King of the Belgians has made an appeal to his Majesty the King
for diplomatic intervention on behalf of Belgium. His Majesty's
Government are also informed that the German Government have
delivered to the Belgian Government a note proposing friendly
neutrality entailing free passage through Belgian territory, and
promising to maintain the independence and integrity of the kingdom
and its possessions at the conclusion of peace, threatening in case
of refusal to treat Belgium as an enemy. An answer was requested
within twelve hours. We also understand that Belgium has
categorically refused this as a flagrant violation of the law of
nations. His Majesty's Government are bound to protest against this
violation of a treaty to which Germany is a party in common with
themselves, and must request an assurance that the demand made upon
Belgium may not be proceeded with, and that her neutrality will be
respected by Germany. You should ask for an immediate reply.
We received this morning from our Minister at Brussels the following
telegram:
German Minister has this morning addressed note to the Belgian
Minister for Foreign Affairs stating that, as Belgian Government
have declined the well-intended proposals submitted to them by the
Imperial Government, the latter will, deeply to their regret, be
compelled to carry out, if necessary by force of arms, the measures
considered indispensable in view of the French menaces.
Simultaneously--almost immediately afterward--we received from the
Belgian Legation here in London the following telegram:
General Staff announces that territory has been violated at
Gemmenich (near Aix-la-Chapelle).
Subsequent information tended to show that the German force has
penetrated still further into Belgian territory. We also received this
morning from the German Ambassador here the telegram sent to him by the
German Foreign Secretary, and communicated by the Ambassador to us. It
is in these terms:
Please dispel any mistrust that may subsist on the part of the
British Government with regard to our intentions by repeating most
positively formal assurance that, even in the case of armed
conflict with Belgium, Germany will, under no pretense whatever,
annex Belgian territory. Sincerity of this declaration is borne out
by fact that we solemnly pledged our word to Holland strictly to
respect her neutrality. It is obvious that we could not profitably
annex Belgic territory without making at the same time territorial
acquisitions at expense of Holland. Please impress upon Sir E. Grey
that German Army could not be exposed to French attack across
Belgium, which was planned according to absolutely unimpeachable
information. Germany had consequently to disregard Belgian
neutrality, it being for her a question of life or death to prevent
French advance.
I have to add this on behalf of his Majesty's Government: We cannot
regard this as in any sense a satisfactory communication. We have, in
reply to it, repeated the request we made last week to the German
Government, that they should give us the same assurance in regard to
Belgian neutrality as was given to us and to Belgium by France last
week. We have asked that a reply to that request and a satisfactory
answer to the telegram of this morning--which I have read to the
House--should be given before midnight.
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