100 Years ago.... To those that are reading these posts, with no prior knowledge of what finally brought England (and Australia) in to the the First World War on the side of France and Russia, you may want to pay attention to the sections referencing Belgium. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Belgium mobilises her forces but promises to observe strict neutrality. She receives assurances of the French minister de suo, and publishes German assurances made in the Reichstag several years before. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Owing to the possibility of a European war, Sir Edward Grey has asked the French and German Governments separately if they were each of them ready to respect Belgian neutrality provided that no other Power violated it ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Austrian Crown Council decided to continue the war against Serbia, and to ignore the dangers of Russian mobilization in the expectation of German support. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The German Ambassador in St. Petersburg informed Nicholas that Germany would mobilize if Russia did not demobilize at once. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tsar Nicholas wrote to Emperor Wilhelm to promise him that Russian general mobilization was not aimed as a prelude to war, and stated: I thank you heartily for your mediation which begins to give one hope that all may yet end peacefully. It is technically impossible to our military preparations which were obligatory owing to Austria’s mobilization. We are far from wishing war. As long as the negotiations with Austria on Serbia’s account are taking place my troops shall not make any provocative action. I give you my solemn word for this. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The German Ambassador in Paris delivered an ultimatum to Premier Viviani telling him that if Russia did not stop its mobilization, then Germany would attack France. Viviani, newly arrived back in France, knew nothing of a Russian general mobilization, and asked his ambassador in St. Petersburg for information. Marshal Joseph Joffre of the French Army asked for permission to order a general mobilization. His request was refused. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Emperor Wilhelm II wrote in a lengthy commentary: For I no longer have any doubt that England, Russia and France have agreed among themselves—knowing that our treaty obligations compel us to support Austria-Hungary—to use the Austro-Serb conflict as a pretext for waging a war of annihilation against us. ... Our dilemma over keeping faith with the old and honourable Emperor has been exploited to create a situation which gives England the excuse she has been seeking to annihilate us with a spurious appearance of justice on the pretext that she is helping France and maintaining the well-known Balance of Power in Europe, i.e. playing off all European States for her own benefit against us. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bethmann Hollweg was overjoyed upon learning of Russian general mobilization at 9:00 am of the 31st, as it allowed him to present the war as something forced on Germany by Russia. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- France, having promised her unconditional support of Russia on the previous day, is trying to obtain an unconditional promise of support from Great Britain. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Germany is deeply stirred by the Russian order of general mobilisation, which came while Emperor and Czar were still exchanging telegrams. She says that this order is making her pacific efforts in Vienna impossible and endangering her safety. She consequently declares **Kriegsgefahrzustand and asks Russia, in an ultimatum, to demobilise within 12 hours. At the same time she asks France to reply within 18 hours, whether she will remain neutral in a Russo-German War. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Britain : The Cabinet refuses the request of France to make her a definite promise of support. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the course of the conversation which the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs had with Herr von Below this morning. Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg replied that he had fully appreciated the feelings which had inspired our representations. He declared that Germany had no intention of violating Belgian neutrality, but he considered that in making a public declaration Germany would weaken her military position in regard to France, who, secured on the northern side, would concentrate all her energies on the east. Baron van der Elst, continuing, said that he perfectly understood the objections raised by Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg to the proposed public declaration, and he recalled the fact that since then, in 1913, Herr von Jagow had made reassuring declarations to the Budget Commission of the Reichstag respecting the maintenance of Belgian neutrality. Herr von Below replied that he knew of the conversation with Herr von Flotow, and that he was certain that the sentiments expressed at that time had not changed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The West Australian, July 31, 1914 trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/2795376?zoomLevel=1 The Daily News, July 31, 1914 trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/7810304?zoomLevel=1
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 03:12:44 +0000