Telegram of the German Ambassador in London to the Chancellor of August 1st, 1914

Sir E. Grey just asked me by telephone whether I believed to be in a position to declare that we would not attack France in a war between Germany and Russia in case France should remain neutral. I declared I believed to be able to give such an undertaking.

(Signed) LICHNOWSKY.

Telegram of His Majesty the Emperor to H. M. the King of England of August 1st, 1914

I just received the communication from your government offering French neutrality under guarantee of Great Britain. Added to this offer was the enquiry whether under these conditions Germany would refrain from attacking France. On technical grounds my mobilization which had already been proclaimed this afternoon must proceed against two fronts east and west as prepared; this cannot be countermanded because I am sorry your telegram came so late. But if France offers me neutrality which must be guaranteed by the British fleet and army I shall of course refrain from attacking France and employ my troops elsewhere. I hope that France will not become nervous. The troops on my frontier are in the act of being stopped by telegraph and telephone from crossing into France.

Telegram of the Chancellor to the German Ambassador in London of Au

gust 1st, 1914

Germany is ready to accept British proposal in case England guarantees with all her forces absolute neutrality of France in Russo-German conflict. German mobilization has been ordered to-day on account of Russian challenge before English proposal was known here. It is therefore now impossible to make any change in strategical distribution of troops ordered to the French frontier. But we guarantee that our troops will not cross the French frontier before 7 P. M. on Monday the 3rd inst. in case England will pledge herself meanwhile.

(Signed) BETHMANN-HOLLWEG.

Telegram of H. M. the King of England to His Majesty the Emperor of August 1st, 1914

In answer to your telegram just received, I think there must be some misunderstanding as to a suggestion that passed in friendly conversation between Prince Lichnowsky and Sir Edward Grey this afternoon when they were discussing how actual fighting between German and French armies might be avoided while there is still a chance of some agreement between Austria and Russia. Sir Edward Grey will arrange to see Prince Lichnowsky early to-morrow morning to ascertain whether there is a misunderstanding on his part. (Signed) GEORGE.

Telegram of the German Ambassador in London to the Chancellor of

August 2nd, 1914

Sir E. Grey's suggestions were prompted by a desire to make it possible for England to keep permanent neutrality, but as they were not based on a previous understanding with France and made without knowledge of our mobilization, they have been abandoned as absolutely hopeless. (Signed) LICHNOWSKY.

The essence of Germany's declarations is contained in Emperor William's telegram to the King of England of August 1st, 1914. Even if there existed a misunderstanding as to an English proposal, the Kaiser's offer furnished England the opportunity to prove her pacific disposition and to prevent the Franco-German war.

STATEMENT OF SIR EDWARD GREY ON THE LICHNOWSKY DESPATCHES 1

Lord ROBERT CECIL asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the publication by the German Government of certain proposals which are alleged to have been made to secure French and English neutrality during the war; and whether the publication was complete and accurate.

Sir E. GREY: I have seen an incomplete publication. The circumstances were as follows: It was reported to me one day that the German Ambassador had suggested

1 Hansard, Vol. 66, No. 123.

that Germany might remain neutral in a war between Russia and Austria, and also engage not to attack France, if we would remain neutral and secure the neutrality of France. I said at once that, if the German Government thought such an arrangement possible, I was sure we could secure it. It appeared, however, that what the Ambassador meant was that we should secure the neutrality of France if Germany went to war with Russia. This was quite a different proposal, and, as I supposed it in all probability to be incompatible with the terms of the Franco-Russian alliance, it was not in my power to promise to secure it. Subsequently, the Ambassador sent for my private secretary and told him that as soon as the misunderstanding was cleared up, he had sent a second telegram to Berlin to cancel the impression produced by the first telegram he had sent on the subject. The first telegram has been published. This second telegram does not seem to have been published.

GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUÉ ANENT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN PRINCE LICHNOWSKY AND SIR EDWARD GREY 1

(Translation)

The Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung of September 5, 1914, contains the following official statement:

According to news received in Berlin, Sir Edward Grey, in the House of Commons, has made a statement to the effect that the exchange of telegrams between Germany and England, prior to the war, as published by the German Government, was incomplete.

The Secretary alleged that Prince Lichnowsky had cancelled his report anent the well-known telephonic conversation, immediately afterwards, by telegraph, after he had been enlightened that there was a misunderstanding. This telegram, however, had not been published.

Moreover, the Times, apparently on information from official quarters, has made an identical statement, with the comment that the German Government had suppressed the telegram in question, in order to be able to accuse England of perfidy, and to prove Germany's pacific intentions.

In contradiction to these statements, we hereby affirm that a telegram of the alleged contents does not exist!

Besides the telegram already published, which was despatched from London on August 1st, 11 A. M., Prince Lichnowsky sent on the same day, the following telegrams to Berlin:

(1) At 1.15 P. M.

"The Private Secretary of Sir Edward Grey just called to inform me: The Minister wished to make propositions to me for the neutrality of England, even in the event

1 Appendix to the authorized translation of the German White Book, issued by the German Government and published in America by The Fatherland, New York City.

of our going to war with Russia, as well as with France. I shall see Sir Edward Grey this afternoon and will at once report."

(2) At 5.30 P. M.

"Sir Edward Grey has just read to me the following declaration which had been unanimously applied by the Cabinet:

"The reply of the German Government with regard to the neutrality of Belgium is a matter of very great regret because the neutrality of Belgium does affect feeling in this country. If Germany could see her way to give the same positive reply, as that which has been given by France, it would materially contribute to relieve anxiety and tension here, while on the other hand, if there were a violation of the neutrality of Belgium by one combatant while the other respected it, it would be extremely difficult to restrain public opinion in this country."" "To my question, whether he could give me a definite guaranty as to the neutrality of England in case we respected the neutrality of Belgium, the Minister responded that he was unable to do so. However, this question would have an important bearing upon English public opinion. If, in a war against France, we should violate the neutrality of Belgium, it would surely cause a change in public opinion which would make it very difficult for the British Government to maintain an amicable neutrality. So far, there was not the slightest intention to take hostile measures against us. The desire prevailed of refraining from such measures, as far as possible. Yet one could hardly draw a line up to which we might safely proceed, without calling forth British intervention. He repeatedly recurred to the neutrality of Belgium, and said that this question would, at all events play a great rôle. He said that he had already thought it over whether it would be possible that we and France would, in the event of a Russian war, remain in a state of armed opposition, without attacking each other. I asked him whether he was in a position to declare that France would be prepared to enter such a pact. Since we had no intention of either annihilating France, nor of annexing parts of her territory, I was inclined to think that we might be open for such an agreement which would secure for us the neutrality of Great Britain. The Minister said that he would make inquiries, adding that he did not under-rate the difficulties of maintaining military inactivity on both sides."

(3) At 8.30 P. M.

"My report of this morning is cancelled by my report of tonight. Since positive English proposals are not forthcoming, further steps in the direction indicated in (Your Excellency's) instructions are useless."

Obviously, the above telegrams contain no hint whatsoever that there had been a misunderstanding, nor anything about the removal of the alleged misunderstanding, as affirmed by the English statesman.

ARBITRATION CONVENTION BETWEEN PORTUGAL AND THE NETHERLANDS

Signed at The Hague, April 3, 1913

Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands and the President of the Portuguese Republic, considering that the execution of the convention concluded between the Netherlands and Portugal at The Hague, October 1, 1904, concerning the boundary of Dutch and Portuguese possessions in the Island of Timor, has given rise to a dispute on the subject of the area of the part of the boundary considered in Article 3, Number 10, of that convention, and wishing to end this dispute amicably, according to Article 13 of the said convention, and Article 38 of the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes concluded at The Hague October 18, 1907, have named as their plenipotentiaries, to wit: [Here follow names of plenipotentiaries] Who, duly authorized to this end, have agreed upon the following articles:

ARTICLE 1

The Government of Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands and the Government of the Portuguese Republic agree to submit the above mentioned dispute, to a single arbitrator to be chosen from the members of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

If the two governments cannot agree upon the choice of such an arbitrator, they will address a request to the President of the Swiss Confederation to designate him.

ART. 2

On the basis of the facts furnished to him by the parties, the arbitrator shall decide according to the treaties and the general principles of international law, how, conformably with Article 3, Number 10 of the convention concluded at The Hague on October 1, 1904, concerning the boundary of Dutch and Portuguese possessions in the Island of Timor, the frontier should be fixed starting from the Noel Bilomi, as far as the source of the Noel Meto.

'Translated by courtesy of Mr. S. F. Bemis, of Medford, Mass., from official print of the award published in French by the International Bureau of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

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