Events now marched rapidly.  While the Cabinet in London were still discussing whether a violation of Belgian neutrality would be an occasion for war, the news came of the violation of that of Luxemburg.  Sir Edward Grey informed M. Cambon[119] that Lord Stanley and Lord Clarendon in 1867 had agreed to a ‘collective guarantee’ by which it was not intended that every Power was bound single-handed to fight any Government which violated Luxemburg.  Although this gross disregard by the Germans of their solemn pledge did not entail the same consequences as the subsequent violation of Belgian neutrality, it is equally reprehensible from the point of view of international law, and the more cowardly in proportion as this state is weaker than Belgium.  Against this intrusion Luxemburg protested, but, unlike Belgium, she did not appeal to the Powers.[120]

Two days later, August 4th, the King of the Belgians appealed to the King for ’diplomatic intervention to safeguard the integrity of Belgium’.[121] The German Government had issued an ultimatum to the Belgian, asking for

’a free passage through Belgian territory, and promising to maintain the independence and integrity of the kingdom and its possessions at the conclusion of peace, threatening in case of refusal to treat Belgium as an enemy.  An answer was requested within twelve hours’.[122]

Sir Edward Grey instructed the British Ambassador to protest against this violation of a treaty to which Germany in common with ourselves was a party, and to ask an assurance that the demand made upon Belgium would not be proceeded with.  At the same time the Belgian Government was told to resist German aggression by all the means in its power, as Great Britain was prepared to join France and Russia to maintain the independence and integrity of Belgium.[123] On receipt of the protest of Sir Edward Grey, it would seem that Herr von Jagow made one more desperate effort to bid for British neutrality:  ’Germany will, under no pretence whatever, annex Belgian territory’:  to pass through Belgium was necessary because the ’German army could not be exposed to French attack across Belgium, which was planned according to absolutely unimpeachable information’.  It was for Germany ’a question of life and death to prevent French advance’.[124] But matters had gone too far:  that day (August 4) the Germans violated Belgian territory at Gemmenich, and thereupon the British demand to Germany to respect Belgian neutrality, issued earlier in the day, was converted into an ultimatum:—­

’We hear that Germany has addressed note to Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs stating that German Government will be compelled to carry out, if necessary by force of arms, the measures considered indispensable.

    ’We are also informed that Belgian territory has been violated at
    Gemmenich.