E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, David King,
and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
With an Appendix of Original Documents including the AuthorizedEnglish Translation of the White Book issued by the GermanGovernment
Second Edition Revised (fourth impression) containing theRussian Orange Book
1914
We are not politicians, and we belong to different schools ofpolitical thought. We have written this book to set forth thecauses of the present war, and the principles which we believe tobe at stake. We have some experience in the handling of historicevidence, and we have endeavoured to treat this subjecthistorically. Our fifth chapter, which to many readers will be themost interesting, is founded upon first-hand evidence—thedocuments contained in the British White Book (Parliamentary Paper,Cd. 7467; hereafter cited as Correspondence respecting theEuropean Crisis), and the German White Book, which is anofficial apology, supplemented by documents. The German White Book,as being difficult of access, we have printed in extenso. Itexists in two versions, a German and an English, both published forthe German Government. We have reproduced the English versionwithout correcting the solecisms of spelling and expression. Fromthe English White Book we have reprinted, in the second appendix, asmall selection of the more significant documents; many more arequoted in the body of our work.
Our thanks are due to Sir H. Erle Richards, Chichele Professorof International Law and Diplomacy; and to Mr. W.G.S. Adams,Gladstone Professor of Political Theory and Institutions, forvaluable suggestions and assistance.
The sole responsibility for the book rests, however, with thosewho sign this Preface.
Any profits arising from the sale of this work will be sent tothe Belgian Relief Fund, as a mark of sympathy and respect for theBelgian 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 arenow able to print in an appendix (No. VI) those documents containedin the Russian Orange Book which have not been already published inthe German and the British White Books. In the light of theevidence afforded by the Russian Orange Book, we have modified oneor two sentences in this edition.
21 September, 1914.
THE NEUTRALITY OF BELGIUM AND LUXEMBURG
Belgian neutrality—The origin of Belgium—England andthe smaller Powers—The Treaty of 1839—Belgium'sindependence and neutrality.—The neutrality of the GrandDuchy of Luxemburg—Its origin—The Treaty of1867—The collective guarantee.—The strategic importanceof Belgium—German plans long suspected.
THE GROWTH OF ALLIANCES AND THE RACE OF ARMAMENTS SINCE 1871
Introduction—The Triple Alliance—Bismarck'sdismissal—French colonial advance—-Germany's demandsfor compensations—The Anglo-French agreement concerningMorocco—German objections—England and Russia—TheAgadir incident—Anglo-French exchange of notes—Disputesin the Balkans—The 'Boulanger Law' of 1886—CountCaprivi's law of 1893—Franco-Russianentente—German military preparations—France'sres