ted by France. But there had been no violence, the
insult had not been offered, the overt act had not occurred. Then,
tired of this method, de Schoen took the initiative and presented a
declaration of war from his government.

The declaration, as history will record, was expressed in these terms:

The German administrative and military authorities have
established a certain number of flagrantly hostile acts
committed on German territory by French military aviators.
Several of these have openly violated the neutrality of
Belgium by flying over the territory of that country; one
has attempted to destroy buildings near Wesel; others have
been seen in the district of the Eifel, one has thrown bombs
on the railway near Carlsruhe and Nuremberg.

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 the 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.

My diplomatic mission having thus come to an end, it only
remains for me to request your Excellency to be good enough
to furnish me with my passports, and to take the steps you
consider suitable to assure my return to Germany, with the
staff of the Embassy, as well as with the staff of the
Bavarian Legation and of the French Consulate General in
Paris.

Be good enough, M. le President, to receive the assurances
of my deepest respect.

(Signed) DE SCHOEN.

Immediately M. Rene Viviani, the French Premier and Minister of
Foreign Affairs, protested against the statements of this
extraordinary declaration. No French aviator had flown over Belgium;
no French aviator had come near Wesel; no French aviator had flown in
the direction of Eifel; nor had hurled bombs on the railroad near
Carlsruhe or Nuremberg. And less than two years later a German, Dr.
Schwalbe, the Burgomaster of Nuremberg, confirmed M. Viviani's
indignant denial of the German accusations:

"It is false," wrote Dr. Schwalbe in the _Deutsche Medizinische
Wochenschrift_