LCC index
CHAPTER I.
Events Leading up to the Great War.
It would be a long task to refer even in outline to all the causes, direct and
indirect, of the Great War and the attempt to do so would raise many
controversial questions. Here it must suffice to state that the Franco-German
War of 1870 had been succeeded by a period of international jealousy and
suspicion, and that, so far from abating, these feelings of unrest had spread
during the early part of the twentieth century widely throughout Europe. A
serious crisis in 1905, leading up to the Algeciras conference, had been
followed by another in 1908 when Austria, in defiance of the Treaty of Berlin,
annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina, and by a third in 191 1 arising out of the
Agadir incident. Each had threatened to lead to war and, although war had been
averted, it began to be clear that efforts to maintain peace could not continue
to be successful.
In most of the chief states there was no inconsiderable number of people who
desired war, some in order to unite to their own country people of kindred race
or language, others for the sake of territorial or political gain, others
in mere self-defence before those plotting against their country became
invincible. So deep were the feelings of distrust that any incident might result
in a crisis for which no peaceful solution could be found. Such an incident was
forthcoming on 28th June, 1914, when the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the
Austrian Empire, was assassinated with his wife while on a visit to Sarajevo,
the capital of
Bosnia. The effects of the outrage were not at once apparent, for no public
action was taken by Austria until 23rd July. Then, however, it presented to
Serbia a peremptory note and demanded a reply by the evening of the 25th. On
this note Sir Edward Grey, the Foreign Secretary, remarked in a despatch to the
British Ambassador at Vienna that he " had never before seen one State address
to another independent State a document of so formidable a character " and that
one of the demands " would be hardly consistent with the maintenance of Serbia's
independent sovereignty." ^ Serbia's reply, delivered within the stipulated
time, accepted in principle, though with reservations, most of the Austrian
demands. This, however, was not considered satisfactory, diplomatic relations
were broken off, orders were given for the mobilisation of the army, and on the
28th war was declared against Serbia. Germany supported Austria, while
Serbia was supported by Russia, thus bringing in France, the latter's ally.
Diplomatic negotiations to avert war or to localise its effects having proved
fruitless, Germany on 1st August declared war on Russia and France, and on the
6th Austria declared war on Russia.
Great Britain of course had no direct interest in the quarrel between Austria
and Serbia, or even in that between Austria and Russia, but, when other issues
were raised and Germany and France were involved, it became vitally affected.
The two main questions were the maintenance of the integrity of France and of
the neutrality of Belgium. Great Britain was under no treaty obligation to
France, but it had been agreed in November, 1912, that, if either
Government had grave reason to expect an unprovoked attack, or something
threatened the general peace, it would immediately discuss whether both
Governments should act together to prevent aggression and to preserve peace. The
German Chancellor's suggestion on 29th July that Great Britain should remain
neutral on condition that Germany took no territory from France except in her
colonies was indignantly rejected, and on 2nd August France was informed that,
if the German fleet came into the English Channel or the North Sea to attack the
French coasts or shipping, the British fleet would give all the protection in
its power. The second question, Belgian
neutrality and the respect of that neutrality by all belligerents, was even more
important. By the Treaty of London, 1839, Great Britain, Austria, Prussia,
France and Russia had agreed that Belgium should form an independent and
perpetually neutral state, and that it should be bound to observe such
neutrality towards all other states. This treaty had been strictly adhered to
during the Franco-German War, and accordingly on 31st July, 1914, when
hostilities between France and Germany became imminent, the two countries were
asked whether, so long as no other power violated it, they would respect the
neutrality of Belgium. France gave the necessary undertaking, but no reply was
received from Germany. In fact on 2nd August the latter presented an ultimatum
to Belgium demanding facilities for military operations, and on the 4th German
troops actually invaded Belgian' territory. On this date Germany was again asked
to give the assurance already given by France and was informed that, unless a
satisfactory reply was received, Great Britain would take all steps in its power
to uphold the neutrality of Belgium. Germany
made no reply and accordingly from 11 o'clock on the night of 4th/5th August,
1914, Great Britain was at war with Germany.
' Correspondence respecting the European Crisis, 1914 [Cd. 7467], p. 9. » Ibid.,
p. 57.