I read that to the House, not as a declaration of war on our part, not
as entailing immediate aggressive action on our part, but as binding us
to take aggressive action should that contingency arise. Things move
very hurriedly from hour to hour. Fresh news comes in, and I cannot give
this in any very formal way; but I understand that the German
Government would be prepared, if we would pledge ourselves to
neutrality, to agree that its fleet would not attack the northern coast
of France. I have only heard that shortly before I came to the House,
but it is far too narrow an engagement for us. And, Sir, there is the
more serious consideration--becoming more serious every hour--there is
the question of the neutrality of Belgium.
I shall have to put before the House at some length what is our position
in regard to Belgium. The governing factor is the Treaty of 1839, but
this is a treaty with a history--a history accumulated since. In 1870,
when there was war between France and Germany, the question of the
neutrality of Belgium arose, and various things were said. Among other
things, Prince Bismarck gave an assurance to Belgium that--confirming
his verbal assurance, he gave in writing a declaration which he said was
superfluous in reference to the treaty in existence--that the German
Confederation and its allies would respect the neutrality of Belgium, it
being always understood that that neutrality would be respected by the
other belligerent powers.
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