OUR DUTY TO FRANCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12306, 5 August 1914, Page 4

OUR DUTY TO FRANCE.

FOREIGN SECRETARY'S STATEMENT. BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE MADE PLAIN. RELATIONS ; UNDER THIS ENTENTE. Received August 4, at 8.20 a.m. London, August 3. In the House of Commons Sir Edward Grey, K.C. (British Foreign Minister), announced that if the German fleet came into the Channel and bombarded the French coast and shipping, Britain would give all possible protection. Received August- 4, at- 3.1-5 p.m. - London, August 3. In the House of Commons Sir E. Crey, the Foreign Secretary, after stating that Britain would be responsible for the guarding of the French coast from Cerman attack, added: "If Germany had given an ultimatum to Belgium asking her to compromise her neutrality, Belgium's independence would have gone. If that went the independence of Holland would follow. I must ask the House to consider what be our position ,if France were beaten and subordinated to Germany, with Belgium, Hoiland, and Denmark under the same dominating influsnce. It has been said that we might stand aside and husband our resources and intervene in the end to put things right, but if we ran away from our obligations of honor and our interests regarding the Belgian Treaty I doubt whether any material force would be of much value in the face of the -respect we should have lost." Sir Edward Grey said: " I ask the House to approach the crisis from the viewpoint of British.interests, British honor and British obligations, I assure the House thai until yesterday the Government had not given any country a promise of more than diplomatic support, Britain, moreover, did not construe anything previously done by the other Powers as restricting her freedom to decide what action she should take in the present crisis. France is - involved under a definite alliance to Russia, but that obligation does not apply to Great Britain, as she is not a party to the Franco-Russian Alliance." Received August 5, .at 1.15. a. 111. Loudon, August.4. Sir Edward Crey in a supple' mentary statement, said;"Tho ■' Government has given no un» dertaking to send an expedition abroad. My answer to the French Ambassador was that the fleet would protect the coast of France, and this decision was subject to Parliamentary approyal. This is not a Declaration of War." Received August i. at 8.50 p.m. London, August 3. There was intense excitement at Westminster, and dense crowds filled Parliament Square. Double rows 'of chairs had to be placed on the floor of the House of Commons. The scene was unprecedented since the introduction of the Home Rule Bill in tlie eighties. Received August 5, at ITS a.m. Loudon, August 4. Sir E. Grey said tlio Belgian King had telegraphed a. jmpremc appeal ,to Britain, to safeguard her integrity. He did not lvno\v whether there had 'been an ultimatum to Belgium ; if so, it was clearly Britain's obligation to. do her' utmost to prevent the consequences. The fleet had been mobilised, and the army was being mobilised, hut the Government had not yet promised to . send an expeditionary army abroad.: Received August 5, at.9.35 a.m. London, August 3. Sir E. Grey said that Britain yesterday gave France an assurance of 'help if the German navy attacked France in the North Sea or the Channel. Germany's undertaking not to attabk, the north coast of France 1 if Britain' pledged her neutrality was l'ar too narrow an engagement.