New York Times Current History: The European War from the Beginning to March 1915, Vol 1, No. 2: Who Began the War, and Why?Various
History
New York Times Current History: The European War from the Beginning to March 1915, Vol 1, No. 2: Who Began the War, and Why?
Various
World War, 1914-1918
Dear Sir Edward: You reminded me in your letter of yesterday, 22d
November, that during the last few years the military and naval
authorities of France and Great Britain had consulted with each
other from time to time; that it had always been understood that
these consultations should not restrict the liberty of either
Government to decide in the future whether they should lend each
other the support of their armed forces; that, on either side,
these consultations between experts were not and should not be
considered as engagements binding our Governments to take action in
certain eventualities; that, however, I had remarked to you that,
if one or other of the two Governments had grave reasons to fear an
unprovoked attack on the part of a third power, it would become
essential to know whether it could count on the armed support of
the other.
Your letter answers that point, and I am authorized to state that,
in the event of one of our two Governments having grave reasons to
fear either an attack from a third power, or some event threatening
the general peace, that Government would immediately examine with
the other the question whether both Governments should act together
in order to prevent aggression or preserve peace. If so, the two
Governments would deliberate as to the measures which they would be
prepared to take in common. If those measures involved action the
two Governments would take into immediate consideration the plans
of their General Staffs and would then decide as to the effect to
be given to those plans.
Yours, &c.,
PAUL CAMBON.
Government's Acts Beyond Reproach.
In the House of Commons the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs spoke
of France, amid the applause of the members, in lofty and impassioned
words, which have already elicited genuine response from all French
hearts.
In the name of the Government of the Republic I wish, from this rostrum,
to thank the British Government for the cordiality of its words, and the
French Parliament will join me in this.
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs made this declaration
particularly:
That in case the German fleet entered the Channel or steamed northward
in the North Sea to go around the British Isles with the purpose of
attacking the French Coast or the French Navy, and to harass the French
merchant marine, the English fleet would interfere by giving the French
fleet its entire protection, in such manner that from that moment
England and Germany would be in a state of war.
Thus, from the present moment, the English fleet is guarding our
northern and western coast against German aggression.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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