South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-08-28
ENGLAND 5 SIDE
Of BREAK WITH
GERMANY GIVEN
Says KaiSer'S Representatives
Refused to Withdraw From
Belgium as 1t Was Their Aim
to Strike Quickly.

LONDO% Aug. 2s--A white Pa
per" giving the report Of Sir William
Goschen. former ambassador at Ber-
lin. on the breaking off Of diplomatic
relations with Germany was issued
by the British foreign office Thursday
night
The report under date Of Aug
cites the instructions OF Sir Edward
Grey. secretary OF state for foreign af-
fairs. 10 call upon the German secre-
tary Of state. Gottleib Won Jagow.
which he complied with inquiring
whether Germany would refrain from
violating the neutrality of Belgium.
Herr Won Jagow said his reply must
be negative because the German troops
had crossed the frontier that morn
ing and went on TO explain why they
had thus violated Belgium's neutrality
1T was a matter Of life or death
for them" said the report, and they
had 10 advance into France by the
quickest and easiest way in order 10
strike some decisive blow as early as
possible. The loss of time in going
by the southern route would mean
time gained by the Russians for the
bringing up OF their troops to the Ger
man frontier. Rapidly Of action was
the German asset while that OF Russia
troops
Held It Impossible.
Ambassador Goschen said he asked
Herr Won JagOW IL there was not still
time TO draw back and he replied:
1T is impossible"
The British ambassador that same
afternoon again visited the German
foreign office and stated his position,
saying that If the imperial govern
ment could not give assurance by / 2
o'clock that night that they would de-
sist he must ask for his passports.
Herr Won JagOw replied that IF the
time given were p hours or more his
answer must be the same"
The ambassador then visited DR..
Won Bethmann-Hollweg. the imperial
chancellor. Concerning their inter-
view the report says:
The chancellor began a harangue
which lasted about 20 minutes. He
said the step taken by Great Britain
was terrible 60 a degree. Just for
word. neutrality word which in
war time had been so often disre-
garded-just for scrap Of paper
Great Britain was going TO make war
on a kindred nation who desired moth
ing better than TO be friends with her.
What we Great Britain had done
was unthinkable. u was like striking
a man from behind while he was
ants.
Il explained to him that If strate-
gical reasons II was a matter of life
and death 10 Germany to advance
through Belgium. il also was matter
OF life or death for the honor OF Great
Britain that she could keep her sol
emn engagement TO do her utmost 10
defend Belgiums neutrality. His ex-
cellency was so excited that / re-
Trained from adding fuel TO the flame
By further argument
The British ambassador SAYS he
handed a Geographic report of the
conversation 10 the telegraph Office in
Berlin. but it never reached the Brit
ism foreign office.
The report then recites the visit Of
Herr Zimmerman, under secretary Of
state, 10 Sir William Goschen to in
Quire II the request 10y the latter for
his passports was equivalent to q
declaration OF war. the ambassadors
evasive reply thereto and Herr Tim
merman's acceptance Of the fact that
il was such a declaration.
The subsequent attack on the en-
bassy by a mob and the expressions
of regret by Herr Won JagOw and by
the emperor himself for the occur
renee are reviewed. the AMBASSADOR
adding words If praise for the German
diplomatic officials for their courteous
treatment OF him after the rupture Of
relations.