THE ULTIMATUM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 94, 16 September 1914, Page 7

THE ULTIMATUM.

BRITAIN AND GERMANY. Mr ASQurnrs statement to HOUSE OF COMMON 3. London, August 4. Mr Asquith, in the House of Commons yesterday, made the momentous eimounceinent that an iltim.mmi, expiring at midnight, had 'teen urcscii-tc 1 to Germany in respect, tj the neutral it;, of Belgium (reports the Daily News and Leader). Received with general cheers, the Premier said: — "In conformity with tfie statement of [olicy which was made by my right hon. friend the Foreign Secretary yesterday, a telegram was sent early tlhis morning thy him to our Ambassador in Berlin. It, was to this effect: — The King of the Belgians V.as made an appeal to IPs Majesty the King for diplomatic intervention on. behalf ol Belgium. His Majesty's Govcrnuiei't are also informed that the German Government has delivered to

the Belgian Goveinm.'nl a Note proposing friendly neutrality for maintaining a free passage, through Belgian territory, and pp/mising to mamtain tlhe independence and integrity of the kingdom and its possessions at the conclusion of peace, 4>ut threatening in ease of refuwii to treat Be'gium as an enemy. An answer was requested within twelve hours. We ulso understand 'has categorically refused this as a liagran' violation of the law of nations. 11 is Majesty's G»v eminent) arc hound to protest against this violation of a treaty to which Germany is a party in common with us, and must ■request an assurance that the demand made upon Belgium ■will not he proceeded •jirith and that her neutrality shall be rwpceled by Germany. (Cheers.) AVe asked for an immediate reply. (Re ncwed cheers.)

BELGIUM INVADED. r "We received this morning from our Minister at Eroesels the following telegram : The German Minister has this morning addressed a Note to the Belgian 'Minister for Foreign Affairs stating that, as the Belgian Oove.Vnm'riit had declined the well-intentioned proposals submitted to ibem by the Imperial Government, the latter, deeply to their regret, is compelled to carry out, if necessary by force of arms, it lie measures considered iadispcns»'bbin view of the Frenoh men-ice. '"Simultaneously, or almost immediately afterwaTdi, we received from t'lie Belgian Legation hero in London the following telejrram from the Belgian Minister for Foreign Afiairs'— General Staff announce Hurt territory has been violated at Gemmenii h. near Aix-la-Chapelle. Subsequent information temlr* to show the Oernnn force has penetrated still further into Belgian territory. THE GERMAN KKMA".

"We also received this morning from the German Ambassador here a telegram seat to him by tlie German Foreign Secretary, and communicated by tllto Ambassador to 11 s , which is iu these terms: — Please dispel any mistrust that may subsist on the i>a/rt of the British Government with regard to our intention by repeating liiost (<wtivcl> the formal assurance that even in the case of armed conflict with Belgium, Germany will under no pretence what ever annex Belgian territory. (Lxiujjiitcr.) The sincerity of tin,4 declaration is 'borne out 'by the fact that We have solemnly pledged our word to Holland strictly to rapect livv neutrality. It is obvious we could not profitably annex. Bel.e;ui-n territory without making at the name time territorial acquisitions at the ex ■pense lof Holland, (Laughter.)^ il'leafce impress upon Sir Edward Grey that the German army could not" bo extposed to French attack across Belgium, which was the plan, (adc-ording to absolutely uninVcaciiable information. Germany lias consequently to disregard Belgian neutrality, it being to her a question of life and death to prevuit the Frencn advance..

That is the end of bhe communication. 1 have to add thin on behalf of His l: r ajest y's W'e cannot regard 'this as in any Hcnsc a satisfactory eonuniciication.! (Cheers.) We have in re,ply to it repeated the request we made bwt week to the German Government that they should give us the same assurance in regard to Belgian neutrality as was given to ua and to Belgium by France last week— (cheers) —ana wo have asked that the reply to that request—a satisfactory answer to the telegram of this morning wlhichl 1 have refvd to the House—should be given before midnight." (Loud cheers.)