ENGLAND AT WAR WITH GERMANY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2221, 6 August 1914, Page 5

ENGLAND AT WAR WITH GERMANY

BELGIUM'S NEUTRALITY v '' V. . i SUPREME APPEAL TO GREAT'BRITAIN ~ f'vs , . . London, August 3. ■ Germany has sent an ultimatum to Belgium demanding, the military iise of. Belgian'territory.-' An answer is demanded by 7 o'clock this morning. The "Daily Exchange" states that Belgium baa refused. .... . The German Embassy!in London has announced that Germany is prepared to abstain fromattacking. >the north-east coast of Franco' .or to' use the Belgian and Dutoh coasts •-if Britain will remain neutral; for the time being. It is argued ? that thus .Britain would render the ,maximum assistance to France without going ' to war. : ""v 1 . ' Sir Edward Grey, speaking in the House of Commons, said the Belgian King i, , had telegraphed a : supreme, appeal to Great Britain to safeguard Belgium's integrity;:' Hedidrot know whether there had been an ultimatum to Belgium. , ;If so, it was clearly Britain's obligation to >do her utmost to prevent the consequences. The Fieet ; had been mobilised and the Army was mobilising, but thaGovernmept had not (yet i promised to send an expeditionary; army abroad. • Belgium's refusal to accede to/the German demands is semi-officially confirmed. In the House ctf Commons, the Prime Minister. (Mr. Asquith) read a telegram fo had 6ent to the British-Ambassador in Berlin early this .-morning. Then he , said the King of the Belgians had appealed to King George'for diplomatic intervention on behalf of Belgium,, who has categorically refused Germany's request for a free passage.of; her troops as a flagrant violation of the' laws of nations. His Majesty's Government.-added Mr. Asquith,.-was, bound to protest against this violation of a treaty, and must request that Belgium's bo respected. Mr. Asquith'read a telegram from, the British Minister at Brussels, quoting the German, Note; to ; Belgium, to the effect .that .as. Belgium had declined, a wellin Wtionedpropos'alisubmitted by the Imperial Government, tho latter deeply regretted that it wOuld be compelled to carry out—if necessary, by forco of armsmeasures it considered indispensable in view of the . French menace, and Mr. " Asquith announced that, Germany had been asked for a satisfactory reply by midnight respecting, Belgian neutrality., . ' . : _ -.. V Later, Mx. Asquith read Herr von Jagow"s (German Foreign Minister) tele- '■ gram, repeating the formal assurance that- Germany wo.uld not annex Belgian territory. (Derisive laughter.) 'Germany bad unimpeachable information that France intended to attack her across Belgium. :Hence her disregard of neutrality.' ' Mr, Asquith added- that this explanation was unsatisfactory; , Mr. Asquith, continuing, said: "Simultaneously we -received a telegram from . the Belgian Foreign Minister, announcing that; Belgian territory had been violated at Geminenich, near Aix la Chapelle, and penetrated still further else- ' where." , ' Mr. Asquith then r Tead Herr Von Jagow's (German Foreign Minister) telegram, which stated: . .- -. ~ ' ' "It is sincerely our declaration that we will not annex Belgian territory. This 1 • is.borne.out by the-fact that solemnly pledged our word to Holland-to Tespect strictly their neutrality. It is obvious that we could not profitably annex Belgian . territory without making territorial acquisitions, at Holland's expense." .. Mr. Asquith continued: "Vfe repeat our request made last week', that Germany >... should give Us the same assurance in regard to Belgian - neutrality as was given to ns and to Belgium by France." ■ It isofficially announced that Germany has invaded Belgium at-Verviers. Brussels, August 3. -One Hundred and fifty thousand men have been mobilised to defend Belgium's neutrality.- The strategical line. fronr'Malmeny to Liege is guarded both on the German and Belgian, sides. Twenty-six thousand men are engaged digging trenches between the. forts. The following is the text of the. message 'Jedehed-' by ?H\s Excellency -the ■ Governor':— ■ ' i " " ' "War hasbroken out with Germany. , ! . V' (Signed)' HARCOUHT."