. Mediæval and modern history . mind-ing Germany that she herselfhad solemnly promised to re-spect Belgian neutrality, re-fused to consent to the passageof the German army, sayingthat the Belgian government by accepting the proposalwould sacrifice the honor ofthe Belgian nation while at thesame time betraying its dutiestowards Europe. The Ger-man troops at once swept violation of Belgium brought Great Britain into the August 4 the British ambassador at Berlin received instruc-tions to inform the Imperial German Government that if assur-ance was not given by twelve oclock
. Mediæval and modern history . mind-ing Germany that she herselfhad solemnly promised to re-spect Belgian neutrality, re-fused to consent to the passageof the German army, sayingthat the Belgian government by accepting the proposalwould sacrifice the honor ofthe Belgian nation while at thesame time betraying its dutiestowards Europe. The Ger-man troops at once swept violation of Belgium brought Great Britain into the August 4 the British ambassador at Berlin received instruc-tions to inform the Imperial German Government that if assur-ance was not given by twelve oclock that night that the German 1 Germany declared war on France August 3, 1914. 2 Though the invasion of Belgium by the Germans actually brought Great Britaininto the war, it is certain that she would, as the ally of France, have taken part in it evenif the neutrality of Belgium had not been violated. She could not have stood asidewhile Germany was striking down France, robbing her of her colonies, and making ofher a vassal Harris & Hwing Fig. 109. Albert, King of theBelgians. (From a photograph) § 708] THE VIOLATION OF BELGIUM 635 advance into Belgium would be stopped, the British governmentwould take all steps in their power to uphold the neutrality ofBelgium and the observance of a treaty to which Germany wasas much a party as themselves. The German Chancellor,Bethmann-Hollweg, greatly agitated, expressed pain and surprisethat the British government should take such a resolve just fora word, neutrality—just for a scrap of paper. The Imperial German Governments reply to the British ulti-matum being that it was absolutely necessary that the Germanarmies should advance into France by the quickest and easiestway, so as to be able to get well ahead with their operations andendeavor to strike some decisive blow as early as possible, GreatBritain at once drew the sword. Thus by the close of August 4, only twelve days after Austriasultimatum to Serbia had become known to th
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