King George V. to the Self-Governing Peoples and the Empire of India,
Sept. 9, 1914.
To the Governments and Peoples of my Self-Governing Dominions: During
the past few weeks the peoples of my whole empire at home and overseas
have moved with one mind and purpose to confront and overthrow an
unparalleled assault upon the continuity of civilization and the peace
of mankind.
The calamitous conflict is not of my seeking, my voice has been cast
throughout on the side of peace. My Ministers earnestly strove to allay
the causes of strife and to appease differences with which my empire was
not concerned. Had I stood aside when, in defiance of pledges to which
my kingdom was a party, the soil of Belgium was violated and her cities
laid desolate, when the very life of the French Nation was threatened
with extinction, I should have sacrificed my honor and given to
destruction the liberties of my empire and of mankind. I rejoice that
every part of the empire is with me in this decision.
Paramount regard for treaty faith and the pledged word of rulers and
peoples is the common heritage of Great Britain and of the empire.
My peoples in the self-governing dominions have shown beyond all doubt
that they wholeheartedly indorse the grave decision which it was
necessary to take.
My personal knowledge of the loyalty and devotion of my oversea
dominions had led me to expect that they would cheerfully make the great
efforts and bear the great sacrifices which the present conflict
entails. The full measure in which they have placed their services and
resources at my disposal fills me with gratitude and I am proud to be
able to show to the world that my peoples oversea are as determined as
the people of the United Kingdom to prosecute a just cause to a
successful end.
The Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Dominion
of New Zealand have placed at my disposal their naval forces, which have
already rendered good service for the empire. Strong expeditionary
forces are being prepared in Canada, in Australia, and in New Zealand
for service at the front, and the Union of South Africa has released all
British troops and has undertaken important military responsibilities
the discharge of which will be of the utmost value to the empire.
Newfoundland has doubled the numbers of its branch of the royal naval
reserve and is sending a body of men to take part in the operations at
the front. From the Dominion and Provincial Governments of Canada large
and welcome gifts of supplies are on their way for the use both of my
naval and military forces and for the relief of the distress in the
United Kingdom which must inevitably follow in the wake of war. All
parts of my oversea dominions have thus demonstrated in the most
unmistakable manner the fundamental unity of the empire amid all its
diversity of situation and circumstance.
Message to India.
To the Princes and peoples of my Indian Empire: Among the many incidents
that have marked the unanimous uprising of the populations of my empire
in defense of its unity and integrity, nothing has moved me more than
the passionate devotion to my throne expressed both by my Indian
subjects and by the Feudatory Princes and the ruling chiefs of India,
and their prodigal offers of their lives and their resources in the
cause of the realm. Their one-voiced demand to be foremost in the
conflict has touched my heart, and has inspired to the highest issues
the love and devotion which, as I well know, have ever linked my Indian
subjects and myself. I recall to mind India's gracious message to the
British Nation of good-will and fellowship which greeted my return in
February, 1912, after the solemn ceremony of my Coronation Durbar at
Delhi, and I find in this hour of trial a full harvest and a noble
fulfillment of the assurance given by you that the destinies of Great
Britain and India are indissolubly linked.
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