Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1914. "A SCRAP OF PAPER."

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 31 October 1914, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1914. "A SCRAP OF PAPER."

SIR EDWARD GOSCHEN, British Ambassador in Berlin at the time of the outbreak of war, has written" a moral epic of British diplomacy which will be one of the most famous chapters in. its varied. We give .the main portion. In it Sir Edward Gosc'lien tells to Sir Edward Grey as Foreign Secretary the story of his "last, interview with .the German Chancellor on the- day, August 4th, that he demanded an answer by midnight- as to whether Germany -would or would not regard its treaty with Belgium. and failing which we. declared war on Germany. The main facts were telegraphed from Berlin by Sir Edward Gos'chen. on August 4th, but though he telegram was accepted it was never dispatched—hence the need for this historic despatch:—Sir,—Tn accordance with the instructions contained in your telegram of the 4th iiist.," writes Sir Edward, "I called upon the Secretary of State that afternoon and" inquired, in the name of His Majesty's Government, whether the Imperial Government would refrain from, violating Belgian neutrality. "Herr von. Jagow at once replied thathe was sorry to say that his answer mustbo 'No.' as

in consequence- of the Germantroops having crossed the fronteir that morning, Belgian neutrality had been alreadv violated.

"Her von Jagow again went into the reasons why the Imperial Governmenthad been obliged to take this step—namely, that they had- to advance into France by the quickest- and easiest*way. so as to be able -to get well ahead with their operations and endeavour to strike some decisive blow as early as possible. It was a- matter of life and death for them, as if the.v 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, entailing great- loss of.time. This loss of time would have meant time gained by the Russians for bringing up 'their troops to the German frontier. Rapidity of action was the great German asset,'while that of Russia was an inexhaustible supply of troops. I pointed out to Herr von Jagow that this fait accompli of : the violation of the Belgian frontier rendered, as lie would readily understand, the situation exceedingly- grave, and. I asked him •whether there was still time to drawback and avoid possible consequences which both he and- I would deplore. He replied ' that, for the reasons he had given me. it* was now impossible for them to dravv back. During the afternoon I' received your further telegram of the same date, and, in compliance with the therein; contained, _ ,-Sf again proceeded to the Imperial Foreign Office and informed the Secretary of State that

unless •' the Imperial ■: Government could" give t-lie assuranfce by 12 o'clock that-iii&fit that'they . would proceed no further with their violation of the Belgian, frontier and stop their advance, I had been; instructed to demand my passports, and in- , form the Imperial Government that His Majesty's Government would have to take all steps in their to uphold the' neutrality of Belgium , and the observance of a treaty to I which Germany was as much a party as themselves. . _ "Herr von . Jagow replied that to his great regret he could give, qo other answer than that which he'-had given/me earlier in the day, namely, that the safety of the Empire rendered it absolutely necessary that the Imperial troops' should advance through Belgium. I gave his Excellency a written" summary of your .telegram, and, pointing out thatyou had, mentionedj twelve o'clock'as-the time when His Majesty's Governmentwould expect an -answer, asked him whether, in view of the terrible consequences which would necessarily ensue, it were hot possible even at the last moment that- t-lieir answer should be reconsidered. He replied that if the time given' we're even 24' hours or moi'e; his ; answer must- be the same. I said that i in.that case I should ha-vo to demand my passports. This interview took" place at about 7 o'clock. In a short conversation which ensued Herr votl Jagow expressed' his .poignant. a'egret at the crumbling" of his entire policy and that of the Chancellor, which had been to make friends with Great- Britain and then, through. Great- 'Britain', to get. closer to France. I said -that this sud-' don end to my work in Berlin was to me also as a- matter of deep regret and disappointment, but tliat he- must understand that under the circumstances arid in view of our engagements, His .-Majesty's Government could not possibly have, acted otherwise than they had done. I then said that I should- like to go and see the Chancellor, as it mightbe, perhaps, the last time I' should have an opportunity of seeing him. He begged me to do so. I found,the Chancellor very agitated. His Excellency at once began a harangue, which lasted for abtfut 20 minutes. "He said .that the step taken by His Majesty's Government was terrible to a degree; just for a word — 'neutrality,' a word which in war time had so often been disregarded—just for a scrap of paper Great- Britain was going to make -war on a kindred nation who desired nothing better than to be friends with her. All his efforts in that direction had been rendered useless by this last terrible step, and the- policy to which, as I knew, ho had devoted himself since his accession to office* had tumbled' down like a house ox cards. What we had done was unthinkable ; it- was like, striking a. 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 liappeg. "I protested' strongly against that statement, and; said that, in the same way as lie and Herr von Jagow -wished me to understand that- for strategical reasons it- was a matter of life and death to Germany to advance through Belgium and violate the lat-ter's neutrality, so I would wish him to understand that - .it it was, so to speak, a matter of 'life - and death' for the honour of Great Britain that she sho.uld keep her solemn, engagement "to do her utmost to defend Belgium's neutrality

if attacked. That solemn compact simply had to be kept, or whsit confidence could anyone luive ju engagements given by Great Britain in •the future? "''The Chancellor said, "'Rut- at- what- price will that compact have been kept? Has the British thought of that?' ••T hinted to his Excellency as plainly as 1 could that fear of consequences could hardly, be regarded as an excuse for breaking solemn engagements, but his Excellency was so: excited, so evidently overcome by the news of our action, and so little disposed to hear reason that I refrained from adding fuel to the flame by further argument. As I was leaving lie said that- the blow of Great Britain joining Germany's enemies was all the greater that almost- up to the last moment he and his Government- had been working with us and supporting our .t'forts to maintain peace between Austria and Russia. I said that this was partr.f the tragedy which saw the two nations fall apart- just- at -the moment when the- relations between them had been more friendly and cordial than. t-hey : had been for years. Unfortunately, notwithstanding 'our efforts to maintain, ; peace between Russia and Austria, the war had spread and had brought us face to face with a situation which, if we held to out engagements, we -could notpossibly avoid, and which unfortunately entailed our separation from our late fellow-werkers. Ho would readily understand that no one regretted this more than I.

"'After this somewhat painful interview I returned v to the Embassy and drew up a telegraphic report of what had passed. This telegram was handed in at the. Central Tolegrapli Office a little before 9 p.m. It was accepted by that office, but apparently never dispatched'. "At about 9.30 .p.m. Herr von- . Zimmermanni, the Under-Secretary of State, camo to see me. After expressing Shis deep regret that the very firendly official and personal relations between, us •were about to cease, he asked mo casually whether a. demand for passports was equivalent to a declaration of war. I said that such an authority on international Jaw as he was known; to be mustknow as well or better than'l what was usual in such cases. I added that there were many cases where diplomatic relations had been broken off and, nevertheless, Avar had not ensued 1 ; but that in this case- lie would: have seen from my instructions, of which I had given Herr von Jagow- a written summary, that His Majesty's Government expected an answer to a- definite question by 12 o'clock that night ,and that in default of a satisfactory answer they would be forced to take as their engagements required. Herr Zimmermann said that was, in fact, a declaration of war. as the Imperial Government could not possibly give the assurance required either that "night- ot any other night. In the meantime," after HeTr Zimmermann left me. a flying-sheet, issued by the i 'Berliner Tageblat-t,' was circulated stating that Great Britain had declared war against Germany. The .immediate result 'of this .news was the assemblage of an exceedingly excited and unruly mob before His Majesty's Embassy. After order had been restored Herr von Ja-n-ow came to see me, and expressed his fieart-felt .regrets at -what had occurred. He said that, the behaviour of his countrymen ha dihadp him feel more ashcicned' than ho had words to express. .It- was anindelible stain- on, the reputation of Berlin. He said that the -flying, sheetcirculated r in the streets had not been authorised by the Government ; in fact, the Chancellor had asked him by telephone whether he thought that -such a statement should be issued, and he had replied, 'Certainly not, until the morning.' It was in consequence of his decision to that- effect .that I .enly a small f9rce of police hac!Jbeeii sent to the neighbourhood of the Embassy, as he had thought that the presence of a large force woiilcl;; inevitably attract attention; and perhaps .lead: to dist-urbapces. It was the Tagcblat.' which, had somehow .got-hold of-the news, that had upset his calculations. "Pe had heard Tumours that the mob had ! been; excited to violence, by gestures made and missiles thrown- from the Embassy j but- he felt sure that that was not true .(I was "able soon, to.-assure him that the- report had no foundation whatever), .'and even if it was, it- .was no excuse for -the. disgraceful scenes which had taken place. He feared that I would t'akfe home with me a. sorry, impression of Berlin manners in moments of excitement. In fact, no. apology could, have been more full and complete. On the following morning, the sth;August, "-the' Emperor sent- one of His Majesty's aides-de-camp to me with the following message:—'The Emperor lias charged me to express to .your Excellency his regret foi*" the . occurrence last night-, but to .tell you at- the same time that .you will gather from those occurrences., an idea of the feelings of his people respecting the action; of Great Britain in; joining\with other nations against her old allies of Waterloo. His Majesty / also begs that- you will tell the King .that; he lias, been/proud of tlie titles of British ; Field-Marshall and British Admiral, but -that in consequence of what' has oc- | curred he must now at,once divest himself of those titles.' '1 would', add .that tlie. above message lost none of its acerbity lay -the manner of its delivery,' savs the Ambassador. This historic dispatch ends with details as to how the Embassy i'eft Berlin, how well the staff behaved, and how fine- was the conduct- of - the American Ambassador in Berlin. j