5 August 1914
Last night, Great Britain entered the war in Europe after an 11 p.m. deadline passed without the German government agreeing to respect the neutrality of Belgium. It will be recalled that the German position is that France had already violated that neutrality.
Early this morning, a supplement to the London Gazette published the following notice:
Wednesday, 5 August 1914
A state of war
His Majesty’s Government informed the German Government on August 4th 1914, that, unless a satisfactory reply to the reqeuest of His Majesty’s Government for an assurance that Germany would respect the neutrality of Belgium was received by midnight of that day, His Majesty’s Government would feel bound to take all steps in their power to uphold that neutrality and the observance of a treaty to which Germany was as much a party as Great Britain.
The result of this communication having been that His Majesty’s Ambassador at Berlin had to ask for his passports. His Majesty’s Government have accordingly formally notified the German Government that a state of war exists between the two countries as from 11 p.m. to-day.
Foreign Office
August 4th, 1914
The Times reports:
War declared
Note rejected by Germany · British ambassador to leave Berlin · Rival navies in the North Sea · British Army Mobilizing · Government control of railways
The following statement was issued from the Foreign Office at 12.15 this morning:
Owing to the summary rejection by the German Government of the request made by His Majesty’s Government for assurance that the neutrality of Belgium will be respected, his Majesty’s Ambassador at Berlin has received his passports and His Majesty’s Government have delcared to the German Government that a state of war exist between Great Britain and Germany as from 11 p.m. on August 4.
 |
| His Majesty King George V |
No comments:
Post a Comment