We confess that we
are unable to understand this attitude of Russia in connection with the
renewal of the negotiations with Austria."
It is customary among civilized nations that a formal declaration of war
shall precede the beginning of hostilities, and all powers, with the
exception of some unimportant, scattered States, have obligated
themselves under international law to observe this custom. Neither
Russia nor France has observed this obligation. Without a declaration of
war Russian troops crossed the German border, opened fire on German
troops, and attempted to dynamite bridges and buildings. In like manner,
without a declaration of war, French aviators appeared above unfortified
cities in South Germany and sought, by throwing bombs, to destroy the
railways. French detachments crossed the German border and occupied
German villages. French aviators flew across neutral Holland and the
then neutral Belgium to carry out warlike plans against the lower Rhine
district of Germany. A considerable number of French officers, disguised
in German uniforms, tried to cross the Dutch-German frontier in an
automobile in order to destroy institutions in German territory. It is
plain that both France and Russia desired to compel Germany to make the
first step in declaring war, so that the appearance of having broken the
peace might, in the eyes of the world, rest upon Germany.
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