+−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−+ | | | ENGLAND HAS DECLARED WAR ON GERMANY! | | | | OFFICIAL REPORT. | | | | This afternoon, shortly after the speech of | | the Imperial Chancellor, in which the offense | | against international law involved in our | | setting foot on Belgian territory was frankly | | acknowledged and the will of the German Empire | | to make good the consequences was affirmed, | | the British Ambassador, Sir Edward Goschen, | | appeared in the Reichstag to convey to | | Foreign Secretary von Jagow a communication | | from his Government. In this communication | | the German Government was asked to make an | | immediate reply to the question whether it could | | give the assurance that no violation of Belgian | | neutrality would take place. The Foreign | | Secretary forthwith replied that this was not | | possible, and again explained the reasons which | | compel Germany to secure herself against an | | attack by the French army across Belgian soil. | | Shortly after seven o'clock the British | | Ambassador appeared at the Foreign Office to | | declare war and demand his passports. | | | | We are informed that the German Government | | has placed military necessities before all | | other considerations, notwithstanding that it | | had, in consequence thereof, to reckon that | | either ground or pretext for intervention would | | be given to the English Government. | | | +−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−+