WHY WE ARE AT WAR GREAT BRITAIN'S CASE With an Appendix of Original Documents including the Authorized English Translation of the White Book issued by the German Government Second Edition Revised (fourth impression) containing the Russian Orange Book BY MEMBERS OF THE OXFORD FACULTY OF MODERN HISTORY 1914 PREFACE We are not politicians, and we belong to different schools of political thought. We have written this book to set forth the causes of the present war, and the principles which we believe to be at stake. We have some experience in the handling of historic evidence, and we have endeavoured to treat this subject historically. Our fifth chapter, which to many readers will be the most interesting, is founded upon first-hand evidence--the documents contained in the British White Book (Parliamentary Paper, Cd. 7467; hereafter cited as _Correspondence respecting the European Crisis_), and the German White Book, which is an official apology, supplemented by documents. The German White Book, as being difficult of access, we have printed _in extenso_. It exists in two versions, a German and an English, both published for the German Government. We have reproduced the English version without correcting the solecisms of spelling and expression. From the English White Book we have reprinted, in the second appendix, a small selection of the more significant documents; many more are quoted in the body of our work. Our thanks are due to Sir H. Erle Richards, Chichele Professor of International Law and Diplomacy; and to Mr. W.G.S. Adams, Gladstone Professor of Political Theory and Institutions, for valuable suggestions and assistance. The sole responsibility for the book rests, however, with those who sign this Preface. Any profits arising from the sale of this work will be sent to the Belgian Relief Fund, as a mark of sympathy and respect for the Belgian nation, and especially for the University of Louvain. E. BARKER H. W. C. DAVIS C. R. L. FLETCHER ARTHUR HASSALL L. G. WICKHAM LEGG F. MORGAN Preface to Second Edition By the courtesy of His Excellency the Russian Ambassador we are now able to print in an appendix (No. VI) those documents contained in the Russian Orange Book which have not been already published in the German and the British White Books. In the light of the evidence afforded by the Russian Orange Book, we have modified one or two sentences in this edition. 21 September, 1914. CONTENTS TABLE OF DATES CHAPTER I THE NEUTRALITY OF BELGIUM AND LUXEMBURG Belgian neutrality--The origin of Belgium--England and the smaller Powers--The Treaty of 1839--Belgium's independence and neutrality.--The neutrality of the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg--Its origin--The Treaty of 1867--The collective guarantee.--The strategic importance of Belgium--German plans long suspected. CHAPTER II THE GROWTH OF ALLIANCES AND THE RACE OF ARMAMENTS SINCE 1871