Saturday, August 29, 2015

ON 4TH AUGUST BETHMANN-HOLLWEG SAID THIS REGARDING BELGIUM

On 4th August 1914 Bethmann-Hollweg apparently gave a speech which contained this paragraph:
As for Great Britain's attitude, the statements made by Sir Edward Grey in the House of Commons yesterday show the standpoint assumed by the British Government. We have informed the British Government that, as long as Great Britain remains neutral, our fleet will not attack the northern coast of France, and that we will not violate the territorial integrity and independence of Belgium. These assurances I now repeat before the world, and I may add that, as long as Great Britain remains neutral, we would also be willing, upon reciprocity being assured, to take no warlike measures against French commercial shipping.

[source : The German White Book : Germany's Reasons for War with Russia, http://www.gwpda.org/papers/germwhit.html]

So was this a lie?

Or did Great Britain do something that made it appear to Germany that Great Britain was not remaining neutral?

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