ked Sir Francis Villiers for this communication, which the
Belgian Government particularly appreciate, and I added that
Great Britain and the other nations guaranteeing our independence
could rest assured that we would neglect no effort to maintain
our neutrality, and that we were convinced that the other powers,
in view of the excellent relations of friendship and confidence
which had always existed between us, would respect and maintain
that neutrality.

"I stated that our military forces, which had been considerably
developed in consequence of our recent reorganization, were
sufficient to enable us to defend ourselves energetically in the
event of the violation of our territory.

"In the course of the ensuing conversation, Sir Francis seemed to
me somewhat surprised at the speed with which we had decided to
mobilize our army. I pointed out to him that the Netherlands had
come to a similar decision before we had done so, and that,
moreover, the recent date of our new military system, and the
temporary nature of the measures upon which we then had to
decide, made it necessary for us to take immediate and thorough
precautions. Our neighbors and guarantors should see in this
decision our strong desire to uphold our neutrality ourselves.

"Sir Francis seemed to be satisfied with my reply, and stated
that his Government were awaiting this reply before continuing
negotiations with France and Germany, the result of which would
be communicated to me."

He telegraphed to the same ministers that the German Minister, Herr
von Below Saleske, had been informed of Belgium's military measures,
and that it was explained to him

"a consequence of our desire to fulfill our international
obligations, and that they in no wise implied an attitude of
distrust toward our neighbors."

The German Minister was reminded of instructions his Chancellor,
Bethmann-Hollweg, had given to his predecessor, Herr von Flotow.

"In the course of the controversy which arose in 1911 as a
consequence of the Dutch scheme for the fortification of
Flushing, certain newspapers had maintained that in the case of a
Franco-German war Belgian neutrality would be violated by
Germany.

"The [Belgian] Department of Foreign Affairs had suggested that a
declaration in the German Parliament durin