ble news to the effect
that the French forces have the intention of marching on the Meuse
by Givet and Namur. This news leaves no doubt as to the intention
of France to march upon Germany from Belgian territory. The
Imperial Government of Germany cannot help fearing that Belgium, in
spite of the best intentions, will not be in a position to repulse
without help an incursion by the French of such great magnitude. In
this case it is sufficiently certain that Germany is seriously
threatened. It is the urgent business of Germany to forestall this
attack on the part of the enemy. The German Government would be
filled with lively regret if Belgium were to regard as an act of
hostility against her the fact that her precautionary measures
oblige her to violate on her side Belgian territory.

In order to avoid the possibility of misunderstanding, the German
Government makes the following comment:

1st. Germany contemplates no act of hostility against Belgium. If
Belgium consents to assume in the war which is about to commence
the attitude of friendly neutrality toward Germany, the German
Government on its side engages, when peace is restored, to
guarantee the integrity of the kingdom and its possessions.

2nd. Germany engages herself, on the aforesaid conditions, to
evacuate Belgian territory as soon as peace is concluded.

3rd. If Belgium observes a friendly attitude, Germany is ready, in
co-operation with the authorities of the Government of Belgium, to
buy for cash everything that is necessary for her troops, and to
pay indemnities for damage done in Belgium; but if Belgium behaves
in a hostile manner against the troops, and in particular places
difficulties in the way of their advance by opposition by the
fortifications of the Meuse, or by the destruction of roads,
railways, tunnels, or other works, Germany will be obliged to
consider Belgium as an enemy.

In that case Germany will enter into no agreement with the kingdom,
but will allow the further relationship of the two States to be
left to the decision of arms. The German Government feels that it
is justified in hoping that this eventuality will not materialize
and that the Belgian Government will know how to take appropriate
measures to prevent its materialization. In that case the friendl