When
mobilization was beginning, I knew that this question must be a most
important element in our policy--a most important subject for the House
of Commons. I telegraphed at the same time in similar terms to both
Paris and Berlin to say that it was essential for us to know whether the
French and German Governments respectively were prepared to undertake an
engagement to respect the neutrality of Belgium. These are the replies.
I got from the French Government this reply:
The French Government are resolved to respect the neutrality of
Belgium, and it would only be in the event of some other power
violating that neutrality that France might find herself under the
necessity, in order to assure the defense of her security, to act
otherwise. This assurance has been given several times. The
President of the Republic spoke of it to the King of the Belgians,
and the French Minister at Brussels has spontaneously renewed the
assurance to the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs today.
From the German Government the reply was:
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs could not possibly give
an answer before consulting the Emperor and the Imperial
Chancellor.
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