The sun., 1914-09-12
Envoy Tells of Incidents
Leading to Declaration
of War.
CHANCELLOR AMAZED
At DECISION TO FIGHT
Sending Of Troops to Bel
gium a "Matter of
Life or Death"

The following Is the full text Of the
White Paper in which Sir Edward Cos
chen. British Ambassador to Germany,
describes the rupture OF diplomatic re-
lations between Great Britain and Ger
many. Cablcd extracts of this report
have already been printed:
Sir r.. Goschen to Sir Edward Grey.
LONDON. August 3. 1914.
SIR: In accordance Nith the instruc-
tions contained In your telegram Of the
ith instant called upon the Secretary
of State that afternoon and enquired, IN
the name OF His Majosty's Government.
whether the Imperial Government would
refrain from Violating Bels sian neutrality.
Herr Won Jgsow nj once replied that he
was sorry to say that his answer must be
no.. as, In consequence of the German
troops having crossed the frontier that
morning. Belgian neutrality had been al.
ready violated. Herr Won Jagow again
went into the reasons why the Impt rial
Government had been obiised to take this
step. namely, that they had to advance
into France by the quickest and easiest
way. so as to be able to get well ahead
with thc.r operations and endeayor to
strike some decisive bow as early as pos
for them, a. II they had gone by the
more southern route they could not have
hoped. IN view Of the paucity OF roads
ana the strength OF the fortresses, to have
got thrOush without formidable oppos-
ion entailing great loss OF time. This
loss OF time would nave meant tius
gained b! tae liuss.ans Tor bring nS up
their troops to th, German frun:lvr. lia-
pdlty OF action vas the Srcat GeimIu as
SCI, ~h!ic that OF Russia Was an Inca
haustIDie supply OF troops.
pointed out to Herr vOn JagoW that
tn,s ia!t scCompli Of the violation OF the
Belgian iromicr rendered. as he would
readily understand the situation exceed
iHBi! SraNc, ana 1 asned ain wht thcg
there was not still time to draw back
and avoid possible consequences which
both he and | would deplore. He replied
Tint for the reasons he had given me, IL
wJts now impossible for them to draw
back.
During the afternoon received your
further telegram OF the same date, and,
IN compliance with the instructions there
IN contained. | again proceeded to the
Imperial Foreign Office and informed the
Secretary of State that uni, 80 the I'm
perial Government could give the assur-
inCe by l2 o'clock that night that they
would proceed no further with their vio-
laton Of thu Belgian frontier and stop
demand my transports and inform the
Imperial Government that His Matesty's
Government would have 20 take all steps
in their powc- TO uphold the neutrality Of
RolS'un1 and 'hc observance Of treaty
20 which Gcrmanv was as much a party
as themselves.
"Hrrr Won Jagow replied that TO his
great regret he could give no other answer
thrn that which he rad given me earlier
~ the day. namely. that the safety OF the
empire rendered = absolutely necessary
that tho imperial troops should advance
througr Ec'glum. gave his EXcelloncy
n written summary Of your telegram and
pointing out that YOU had mentioned II
O'Clock as the time when his Msjesty's
Government would expect an answer
asked him whether. in view of the terrible
corseuueuccs which would necessarily en-
sue, II wc-c not possible even NJ tho last
moment that their answer should be re-
considered lie replied that " the tim"
given vcrc oven tw0nty-four hours ~
more his answer must be the Same. I
said that In that case should have TO
demand my passports. This Interview
took piacc NJ about o'clock In short
conversation which ensued Herr Won ia
guvr expressed his poignant regret Mt the
cru,nbling Of his cntre policy and that Of
the Chancellor which had been TO make
friends with Groat Britain and then.
through Great Rr'taiu. to get closer TO
France grid that this sudden end to
my work IN Berlin was TO me also n mat
ter Of deep regret and disappointment, hut
that he must understand that under the
circumstances and IN view OF our en-
ragemcnts his Mnjosty's Government
could NJ. possibly have acted otherwise
thnn they had done"
81 then said that should IKE 10 go
and 500 the Chancellor. as " might be,
PERHAPS. the last time should have an
Opportunity OF seeing him. lie begged
me 20 do so. I found the Chancellor
very aeitated His Excelency at once
hogan harangue, which lasted for about
tw.nty minutes He said that the step
taken by Hts Majesty's Government was
terrible 70 degree; tust for word
neutrality" a word which In war time
had so often been disregarded--just for
a scrap OF paper Great Britain was
going 10 make war on kindred nation
who desired nothing better than TO be
friends with her. All his EFFORTS In that
direction had been rendered useless by
this last terrible step. and the policy to
which, as l knew. he had devoted himself
since his accession to office had tpmbled
down like a house of cards What we
had done was unthinkable: II. was like
striking man from behind while he