is inconsistent record and complex
personality--German Foreign Office deprecates his return--Its many
blunders--The Kaiser takes the helm--He telegraphs the Czar--The
Czar's reply--The Kaiser's second telegram--His untenable
position--The Czar's explanation of military preparations and pledge
that no provocative action would be taken by Russia--King George's
telegram proposing temporary occupation by Austria of Belgrade pending
further peace negotiations--The Kaiser's reply--The Kaiser's
telegram to the Czar demanding Russian discontinuance of military
preparations--His insistence upon unilateral conditions--Germany's
preparations for war--Its offer to England to insure its
neutrality--England's reply--Russia's offer to stop conditionally
military preparations--England requests Germany to suggest any peace
formula--Austria expresses willingness to discuss with Russia Servian
note--Motives of Austria for this reversal of policy--The Kaiser
sends ultimatum to Russia--The Czar's last appeal--The Kaiser's
reply--Russia's inability to recall mobilization--England's last
efforts for peace--Germany declares war--The Czar's telegram to King
George 138

CHAPTER IX

THE CASE OF BELGIUM

The verdict of history not affected by result of war--Belgium
at outbreak of war--The Treaty of 1839--Its affirmation by
Bismarck--France's action in 1871--Reaffirmation by Germany of
Belgian neutrality in 1911-1914--The Hague Peace Conference of
1907--England asks Germany's and France's intentions with
respect to Belgium's neutrality--France replies--Germany's
refusal to reply--Germany's second offer to England--Germany's
ultimatum to Belgium--Belgium's reply--France's offer of five
army corps--Belgium refuses aid--Germany's declaration of war
against Belgium--The German Chancellor's explanation in the
Reichstag--The Belgian King appeals to England--England's ultimatum
to Germany--The "scrap of paper" incident--England declares war
against Germany--The apologies for Germany's action discussed--Belgium's
rights independent of Treaty of 1839 or The Hague Convention--Germany's
allegation that France had violated Belgium's neutrality an
afterthought--Von Mach's plea for the suspension of judgment--The
Brussels documents discussed--The negotiations between England
and Belgium--The German Chancellor's belated explanation of the
"scrap of paper" phrase--Invasion of Belgium a recrudescenc