The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-08-12
Defines ATTITUDE
BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY
TALKS TO COAfONS.
PROTECT French COAST

Has Informed France That in Case
of Attack by German Fleet on
French Coast English Navy VIII
Render All Possible Aid.
Sir Edward Grey, British foreign
secretary, stated in the House OF
Commons Monday that the British
attitude in the present European con-
lfict should be. Dealing with the
question Of Great Britain's obliga-
tions, Sir Edward said:
"Up to yesterday we had given no
promise of more than diplomatic sup
port. l was asked if we would give
armed support and said 1 would
Ipromise nothing to any foreign power
unless it received the whole-hearted
support of public opinion.
81 gave no promise but / told both
the French and German ambassadors
hat II war was forced on France pub.
lie opinion in the British Isles would
Irally to France"
| This part Of the speech was receiv-
led with loud cheering The foreign
lsecretary stated that the British feet
has been modified and the mobiliza-
ition of the army was taking place,
Ibut that no arrangements had yet
been made TO send an expedition
ABROAD. He continued:
/ 'tThe French fleet is in the Medit-
lerranean and the northern coasts are
, defenseless. If foreign feet engag-
ed in war against France should come
down and battle against those de-.
tfenseless coasts we could not stand
aside.
eve felt strongly that France was
! entitled to know at once whether In
| 1.-The event of an attack or" her un-
; protected coasts she could rely on
, Jour support.
, s'I gave the engagement to the
: French ambassador last night that II
the German feet goes into the Eng
t ilish channel or into the North sea TO
attack French shipping or the French:
3 coast the British feet will give all
: the protection in its power.
'That answer is subject to the ap-
: uroyal of parliament. It is declara-
tion Of war.
: 81 understood that the German
: government would be prepared II We
: would pledge ourselves be prepared
Iif we would pledge ourselves to neu-
,itrality to agree that its feet would
t not attack the northern coast OF
France.
"That is far too narrow an engage
ment.''
The House broke out into cheers at
9 this remark. Sir Edward Grey then
recited the history of Belgian neutral
y ity. saying:
"Our interest is as strong to-day as
It was in 1870. We can not take q
LESS serious view of our obligations
NOW than did the late Mr. Gladstone
in that year.
"When mobilization began tele-
graphed to both the French ana tne
E German governments asking whether
lthey would respect Belgian neutral
!: Iity. France replied she was prepared
: Ito do so unless another power NO
!, lated that neutrality.
'sThe German foreign secretary re-
lp1ied he could not possibly give a re-
!, Isnonse before consulting the imperial
, lchancellor, and the German Emperor.
He intimated that he doubted whetn-
er it was possible to give an asWer
, because that answer would olsciose
I the German plans.
, eve were sounded last week as 10
whether, il Belgian neutrality were
restored after the war, it would pac-
!, Iifv US, and we replied that we could
not barter our interests or our ooh-
: cations" .,s
Another burst of cheering greeted
this declaration. Sir Edward tnen
lredd q telegraph lioiii eAS :.
the Belgians to King George MAKING
a supreme appeal for diplomatic m
fervention to safeguard the lndepeno-
ence of Belgium.
y, Toward the close Of his speech Sir
Edward Grey said: eve must De
prepared and We are prepared to face
the consequences Of using al our
strength at any moment to protect
ourselves.
Andrew Bonar Law. leader OF the
opposition. warmly supported tae
government and referred amic cneers
to the pledges of support received
from the British dominions.
Wild cheering from all parts OF the
House greeted John f. Redmond, tns
nationalist leader, when he assured
the government that every soldier IN
ireland might be withdrawn to-mef-
row AMI the coasts OF Ireland Wouio
be defended against invasion oy nef
Iarmed sons, the Catholics OF the
iSouth and the Protestants OF clster'
o~o