148.)
As the aim of this decision, of which M. Cambon was informed verbally,
was to give France an assurance that it would be placed in a position
"to settle the disposition of its own Mediterranean fleet," Grey would
not accept the version of Cambon that England would take part in a war
with Germany. This is a case of splitting hairs in order to put the
blame of starting the war on Germany, for while England promised to
protect the French coast and to make it possible for the French fleet to
stay in the Mediterranean, she almost immediately proceeded to a warlike
action against Germany, especially as the English Minister
simultaneously refused to bind himself to maintain even this peculiar
neutrality.
* * * * *
IV.
BELGIAN NEUTRALITY.
The highest representatives of the German Empire with emphatic
seriousness declared that it was with a heavy heart and only following
the law of self-preservation that they decided to violate the neutrality
of the Kingdom of Belgium, guaranteed by the great powers in the
treaties of 1831 and 1839.
The German Secretary of State on Aug. 4 informed the English Government
through the embassy in London that Germany intended to retain no Belgian
territory, and added:
Please impress upon Sir E.
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