uxemburg, en route for
France, and it was then known that a German invasion of Belgium
would be inevitable. But before taking this step Germany tendered
certain proposals to the Belgian Government, assuring it that if
peaceful passage were given to German troops Belgium would be given
a subsidy. But the Belgian Government turned down these proposals
and the king sent this telegram to the British monarch: "Remembering
the numerous proofs of your majesty's friendship and that of your
predecessor, of the friendly attitude of England in 1870, and the
proof of the friendship which she has just given us again, I make a
supreme appeal to the diplomatic intervention of your Majesty's
Government to safeguard the integrity of Belgium."

Italy and England were now the only two important powers in Europe
which were not embroiled in war, but the moment was rapidly
approaching when the former could no longer keep out of it, if for
no other reason than to see that the balance of power in Europe was
not upset. On August 4, 1914, Sir Edward Grey said in the British
House of Commons, "The French fleet is now in the Mediterranean, and
the northern coasts of France are defenseless. If a foreign fleet
engaged in war against France should come down and battle against
those defenseless coasts, we could not stand aside. We felt strongly
that France was entitled to know at once whether, in the event of
attack on her unprotected coasts, she could rely on our support. I
gave the engagement to the French Ambassador last night that if the
German fleet goes into the English Channel or into the North Sea to
attack French shipping, or the French coast, the British fleet will
give all the protection in its power. That answer is subject to the
approval of Parliament. It is not a declaration of war. I understand
that the German Government would be prepared, if we would pledge
ourselves to neutrality, to agree that its fleet would not attack
the northern coasts of France. That is far too narrow an
engagement." Germany had thrown down the gauntlet in showing she
intended to invade Belgium; Great Britain here threw down the
gauntlet. It could be but a question of hours before Germany and
England went to war.

Meanwhile, because war was already on between Germany and France,
the latter did not go to the trouble of issuing a declaration of
war. And on August 4, 1914, the Italian Government announced that
"The Italian Cabinet has decided that while some of