Statement by Prime Minister Asquith in House of Commons, Aug. 5.
_Mr. Bonar Law_--May I ask the Prime Minister if he has any information
he can give us today?
_The Prime Minister_--Our Ambassador at Berlin received his passports at
7 o'clock last evening and since 11 o'clock last night a state of war
has existed between Germany and ourselves.
We have received from our Minister at Brussels the following telegram:
I have just received from Minister for Foreign Affairs [that is the
Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs] a note of which the following
is a literal translation:
"Belgian Government regret to have to inform his
Majesty's Government that this morning armed
forces of Germany penetrated into Belgian
territory in violation of engagements assumed by
treaty.
Belgian Government are further resolved to resist
by all means in their power.
Belgium appeals to Great Britain and France and
Russia to co-operate, as guarantors in defense of
her territory.
There would be concerted and common action with
the object of resisting the forcible measures
employed by Germany against Belgium, and at the
same time of guarding the maintenance for future
of the independence and integrity of Belgium.
Belgium is happy to be able to declare that she
will assume defense of her fortified places."
We have also received today from the French Ambassador here the
following telegram received by the French Government from the French
Minister at Brussels:
The Chef du Cabinet of the Belgian Ministry of War has asked the
French Military Attaché to prepare at once for the co-operation and
contact of French troops with the Belgian Army pending the results
of the appeal to the guaranteeing powers now being made. Orders
have, therefore, been given to Belgian Provincial Governors not to
regard movements of French troops as a violation of the frontier.
This is all the information I am at the moment able to give to the
House, but I take the opportunity of giving notice that tomorrow, in
Committee of Supply, I shall move a vote of credit of £100,000,000.
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