Sir Edward Grey agreed to this and so did the Prime Minister, but the latter asked that it should be mentioned to the Cabinet, which was meeting almost immediately, for their confirmation. On this I sent, before going to the Cabinet, the following:— ‘If _Goeben_ attacks French transports you should at once engage her. You should give her fair warning of this beforehand.’ The Cabinet, however, adhered formally to the view that no act of war should be committed by us before the expiration of the ultimatum. The moral integrity of the British Empire must not be compromised at this solemn moment for the sake of sinking a single ship. The _Goeben_ of course did not attack the French transports. In fact, though this we did not know at the time, she was steaming away from the French transport routes when sighted by the _Indomitable_ and _Indefatigable_. Even if, however, she had attacked transports, the decision of the British Cabinet would have prevented our battle-cruisers from interfering. This decision obviously carried with it the still more imperative veto against opening fire on the _Goeben_, if she did not attack French transports, during the hours when we had her in our power. I cannot impeach the decision. It is right that the world should know of it. But little did we imagine how much this spirit of honourable restraint was to cost us and all the world. In consequence of the Cabinet decision, the First Sea Lord sent by my directions the following telegram from the Admiralty:— _Admiralty to all ships, August 4_, 2.5 p.m. The British ultimatum to Germany will expire at midnight Greenwich Mean Time, August 4. No act of war should be committed before that hour, at which time the telegram to commence hostilities against Germany will be dispatched from the Admiralty. Special addition to Mediterranean, _Indomitable_, _Indefatigable_. This cancels the authorisation to _Indomitable_ and _Indefatigable_ to engage _Goeben_ if she attacks French transports. At about the same time I received the following minute from the First Sea Lord:— _August 4._ First Lord. In view of the Italian declaration of neutrality, propose to telegraph to Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, acquainting him and enjoining him to respect this rigidly and not to allow a ship to come within six miles of the Italian coast. B. Considering how disastrous it would be if any petty incident occurred which could cause trouble at this fateful moment with Italy and approving of the First Sea Lord’s precaution, I replied in writing:— _August 4._ So proceed. Foreign Office should intimate this to Italian Government. W. S. C.