The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-28
STEP TAKEN BY ENGLAND
IS TERRIBLE TO DEGREE
German Chancellor Cannot Under.
stand Why Britain Should Fight TO
Uphold Mere Scrap OF Paper"
LIKE BLOW IN THE BACK
London Foreign Ohice Makes Public
Report OF Incidents Surrounding
Rupture OF Diplomatic Relations.
Efforts for Peace Exhausted.

LONDON. August 27.-The British
Foreign Office tonight issued the re
port OF Sir William Goschen. former
ambassador At Berlin. on the rupture
of diplomatic relations with Germany.
The report, dated August s, says that
the Ambassador called on the German
Secretary OF state. Gottlieb Won JaEow.
and inquired whether Germany would
refrain from violating Belgian neu-
trality.
Herr Won Jagow," the report con-
tinues. replied that he was sorry To
say his answer must be, No since
German troops. having crossed the
frontier that morning. Belgian neutral
ity already had been violated. Herr
Won JaEow again went into the reasons
why the imperial government had been
Obliged To take this step. namely. that
they had TO advance into France by the
quickest and easiest way TO set we'll
ahead with their operations and en-
deavor to strike a decisive blow as
early as possible.
1T was a matter OF life or death for
them. as. II they had gone by the more
southern route, they could not have
hoped. In view OF the paucity of roads
and the strength OF the fortresses, to
have got through without formidable
opposition. cntailing great loss OF time.
RAPIDITY OF ACTION
VITAL TO GERMANY
This loss Of time would mean time
gained by the Russians for the bring
ing up OF thcir troops to the German
frontier Rapidity OF action was tho
Sreat asset. while that OF Russia was
the inexhaustible supply OF troops.
Il pointed out TO Herr Won Jagow
that this fait accompli of the violation
OF the Belgian frontier rendered, as
he would readily understand. tho sit
uation exec edinely grave, and asked
him whether there still was not time
to draw back and avoid possible con
sequences, which both he and | would
deplore
He replied that for reasons he had
given me, il was Impossible for him TO
draw back"
The British ambassador went to tho
German Foreign Office again the same
afternoon. and informed the Secretary
OF state that unless the imperial gov
crnmcnt could give assurance by IL
o'clock that night that they would pro-
cced no further with the violation Of
the Belgian frontier and stop their All
vance. he had been instructed by Sir
Edward Grey to demand his passports
and to inform the imperial government
that His Majesty's government would
havo TO take all steps in its power to
uphold neutral Belgium and the OBJ
servance OF the treaty to which Ger
many was as much party as Great
Britain.
Herr Won Jagow." says the report.
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 or the
empire rendered IT necessary that the
imperial troops should advance through
Belgium
II gave His Excellency a written
summary or your telegram, and point
inS out that you had mentioned 10
o'clock ms the time when His Majest,'s
government would expect an answer
asked him whether, In view OF the tor
rible consequences which would neces-
sarily ensue. II was not possible even
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