It
is in these terms:
Please dispel any mistrust that may subsist on the part of the
British Government with regard to our intentions by repeating most
positively formal assurance that, even in the case of armed
conflict with Belgium, Germany will, under no pretense whatever,
annex Belgian territory. Sincerity of this declaration is borne out
by fact that we solemnly pledged our word to Holland strictly to
respect her neutrality. It is obvious that we could not profitably
annex Belgic territory without making at the same time territorial
acquisitions at expense of Holland. Please impress upon Sir E. Grey
that German Army could not be exposed to French attack across
Belgium, which was planned according to absolutely unimpeachable
information. Germany had consequently to disregard Belgian
neutrality, it being for her a question of life or death to prevent
French advance.
I have to add this on behalf of his Majesty's Government: We cannot
regard this as in any sense a satisfactory communication. We have, in
reply to it, repeated the request we made last week to the German
Government, that they should give us the same assurance in regard to
Belgian neutrality as was given to us and to Belgium by France last
week.
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