fleet. He has explained, in
considering the situation, what he proposed to do with regard to
Belgian neutrality; and the reading of a letter from King Albert
asking for the support of Great Britain has deeply stirred the
House.

"The House will this evening vote the credit which is asked for;
from this moment its support is secured to the policy of the
Government, and it follows public opinion which is declaring
itself more and more in our favor."

M. Viviani warned M. Paul Cambon that the German Ambassador Schoen
was reported to have said at the Foreign Office that yesterday
eighty French officers in Prussian uniform had attempted to cross
the German frontier in twelve motor cars at Walbeck.

"Be good enough urgently to contradict this news which is pure
invention, and to draw the attention of the [British] Foreign
Office to the German campaign of false news which is beginning."

German Ambassador von Schoen had a farewell audience at the Foreign
Office at 6.45 p. m., at which he handed M. Viviani a letter stating
that French military aviators had committed "flagrantly hostile
acts" on German territory, one throwing bombs on the railway near
Karlsruhe and Nuremberg, and had openly violated the neutrality of
Belgium by flying over Belgian territory.

"I am instructed, and I have the honor to inform your excellency,
that in the presence of these acts of aggression the German
Empire considers itself in a state of war with France in
consequence of the acts of this latter power.

"At the same time I have the honor to bring to the knowledge of
your excellency that the German authorities will detain French
mercantile vessels in German ports, but they will release them
if, within forty-eight hours, they are assured of complete
reciprocity."

M. Viviani formally challenged as inaccurate the allegations of the
ambassador.

M. Viviani instructed Ambassador Jules Cambon at Berlin to ask for
his passports.

"I request you at the same time to protest in writing against the
violation of the neutrality of Luxemburg by German troops, of
which notice has been given by the Prime Minister of Luxemburg;
against the ultimatum addressed to the Belgian Government by the
German Minister at Brussels to force upon them the violation of
Belgian neutrality and to require of that country that she should