Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-28
.GOSCHEN DESCRIBES
. LAST DAY IN Berlin
British Foreign Office Issues
"White Paper" Recruiting
Failure of Diplomacy.
GERMANS IN BELGIUM
BEFORE EFFORTS BEGAN
Kaiser's Chancellor Excited and Al
luded to Treaty as "a Scrap
of Paper"

LONDON, August 28.-Tne Brlt1Sn
foreign office issued last night in the
form of white paper" report Of Sir
William Goschen, the former English
ambassador at Berlin, on the rupture
Of diplomatic relations with Germany.
The report Is dated August 8 and
says that in accordance with instruc-
lions of August 4 from Sir Edward
Grey, secretary of state for foreign
affairs, the ambassador called on the
German secretary of state, Gottlieb
Won Jagow. He inquired whether Ger
many would refrain from violating
Belgian neutrality.
Herr Won Jagow," the report con-
tinues. at once replied that he was
sorry to say his answer must be no.
as in consequence Of the German troops
having crossed the frontier that morn
ing, Belgian neutrality had already
been violated. Herr Won Jagow again
government had been obliged to take
this step. namely. that they had to
advance into France by the quickest
and easiest way, so as TO De able TO
get well ahead with their operations
and endeavor to strike some decisive
blow as early as possible.
Matter Of Life and Death.
cit was a matter of life or death
more southern route they could not
have hoped, in view Of the paucity Of
roads and the strength of the fortress
es. to have got through without for
midable opposition, entailing great loss
of time.
This loss Of time would mean time
gained by the Russians for the bring
ing up of their troops to the German
frontier. Rapidly of action was
the great German asset, while that OF
Russia was the inexhaustible supply of
troops.
Il pointed out to Herr Won Jagow that
this fat accompH of the violation Of the
Belgian frontier rendered, as he would
understand, the situation exceedingly
grave. and I asked him whether there
was still not time to draw back, and
avoid possible consequences which both
he and would deplore.
HE replied that for reasons he had
given me it was now impossible for him
to draw back"
Hour Set for Assurances"
The British ambassador went to the
German foreign Office again the same
afternoon and Informed the secretary of
state that unless the imperial government
could give assurances by II o'clock that
night that they would proceed no further
with the violation of the Belgian from
tier and stop their advance, he had been
instructed to demand his passports, and
to inform the imperial government that
his majesty's government would have to
take all steps in its power to uphold
neutral Belgium and the observance OF
the treaty to which Germany was as
much party as Great Britain.
To
replied that to his great regret he could
give no other answer than that which
he had given me earlier in the day.
namely, that the safety of the empire
imperial troops should advance through
Belgium.
"I gave his excellency a written sum-
mary Of your telegram. and. pointing out
that you had mentioned II o'clock as the
time when his majesty's government
would expect an answer, asked him
whether. in view Of the terrible conse-
quences which would necessarily ensue,
it was not possible even at the last mo-
ment that their answer should be recon-
given were even twenty-four hours or
more his answer must be the same.
Demanded His Passports.
81 said that in that case I should have
to demand my passports.
THE interview took place about
o'clock. In a short conversation which
ensued Herr Won Jagow expressed his
poignant regret at the crumbling Of his
entire policy and that Of the imperial
chancellor, which had been to make
friends with Great Britain and then,
through Great Britain, to get closer to
France.
It said that this sudden end to my
in fn ms a
of deep regret and disappointment, but
that he must understand that under the
circumstances and in view Of our en-
gagements his majesty's government
could not have acted otherwise than it
had done"
The ambassador then went to see the
imperial chancellor, DIR. Won Bethmann-
Hollweg. and he found him very excited
Famous "scrap Of Paper" Phrase.
1.-THE chancellor" says the report. be
gan a harangue. which lasted about
twenty minutes. He said the step taken
by Great Britain was terrible to a de-
gree. Just for a word, 'neutrality'-a
word which in wartime had been SO
often disregarded: Just for scrap Of
paper. Great Britain was going to make
war on q kindred nation, who desired
nothing better than to be friends with
neT. All HIS eiioTtc III lHdl uIfeCuOn Hdu
been rendered useless by this last terri
BILE step, and the policy to which, as l
knew. he had devoted himself since his
accession to Office. was tumbled down
like a house of cards.
what we had done was unthinkable.
1t was like striking man from behind
| while he was fighting for his life against
| two assailants. He held Great Britain
| responsible for all the terrible events
| that might happen.
II protested strongly against this