Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-08-13

changed between TREAT BRITAIN anu
Germany which brought on the crisis
in the relations between the two pow.
ers were read In the house of com
mons by Premier Asquith.
The premier began by saying that
telegram had been sent early this
morning to Sir Edward Gosehen, Brit.
fish ambassador in Berlin, to the fol.
lowing effect
The king of the Beigians has ap-
pealed to His Britannia MaJesty's gov
eminent for diplomatic Intervention
on behalf of Belgium. The British
government is also informed that the
German government has delivered to
the Belgian government note propos-
ing friendly neutrality pending free
passage Of German troops through
Belgium and promising to maintain
the independence and integrity of the
kingdom and its possessions en- the
conclusion Of peace, threatening. In
case Of refusal, to treat Belgium as
an enemy
Sir Edward Grey, the British foreign
secretary. requested an answer within
IL hours.
Premier Asquith then read a tele.
gram from the German foreign minis
ter which the German ambassador in
London had sent to Sir Edward Grey
today. 1t was as follows;
please dispel any distrust that may
exist en- the part of the British gov
eminent with regard to our intentions
by repeating most positively the for
nal assurance that even in case of
armed conflict with Belgium, Germany
will under no pretensions whatever
annex Belgian territory"
The premier continued:
I'VE understand that Belgium cate
gorically refused to assent to a fia-
grant violation OF the law of nations.
"His Majesty's government was
bound to protest against this violation
Of a treaty to which Germany was a
party in common with England and
must request an assurance that the
demand made on Belgium by Germany
be not proceeded with and that Bel
GUMS neutrality be respected by Ger
manv. and we have asked for an i'm.
mediate reply.
I'VE received this morning from our
minister in Brussels the following tel.
egram:
The German minister has this
morning addressed a note to the Bel.
gian minister for foreign affairs stat
ing that. as the Belgian government
has declined a well intentioned pro.
nosal submitted to 1t by the imperial
German government the latter. deep
" to its regret, will be compelled to
carry out, If necessary. by force of
arms. the measures considered indis-
pensable in view of the French men.
ace"
Mr.. Asauith continued:
"Immedistely after we received
from the Belgium legation here the
following telegram from the Belgian
minister of foreign affairs:
The Belgian general staff an.
nounces that Belgian territory has
been violated at verviers, near AK.
la-ChapeIle.'
Subsequent Information tends to
show that German force has pene-
trated still further into Belgian terri.
tory.
I'VE also received this note this
morning from the German ambassador
here:
PLEASE dispel any distrust that
may subsist on the part Of the British
government with regard to our inten-
tons by repeating most positively the
formal assurance that even In case Of
armed conflict with Belgium, Germany
will, under no pretensions whatever,
not annex Belgian territory. The sim
cerity of this declaration is borne
out by the fact that We have solemnly
pledged our word to Holland strictly
to respect her neutrality. 1t is OBJ
vious that we could not probably
annex Belgian territory without MAX
ing territorial acquisition at the ex-
pense of Holland.
Question Of Life and Death.
Please impress on Sir Edward
Grey that the German army could not
remain exposed to a French attack
across Belgium, which was planned.
according to absolutely unimpeachable
information. Germany has as con.
sequence disregarded Belgian neutrali.