Great Britain, together with France, Russia, Prussia, and Austria, had solemnly guaranteed the neutrality of Belgium.  In the preservation of this neutrality our deepest sentiments and our most vital interests are alike involved.  Its violation would not only shatter the independence of Belgium itself:  it would undermine the whole basis which renders possible the neutrality of any State and the very existence of such States as are much weaker than their neighbors.  We acted in 1914 just as we acted in 1870.  We sought from both France and Germany assurances that they would respect Belgian neutrality.  In 1870 both powers assured us of their good intentions, and both kept their promises.  In 1914 France gave immediately, on July 31, the required assurance; Germany refused to answer.  When, after this sinister silence, Germany proceeded to break under our eyes the treaty which we and she had both signed, evidently expecting Great Britain to be her timid accomplice, then even to the most peace-loving Englishman hesitation became impossible.  Belgium had appealed to Great Britain to keep her word, and she kept it.

The German professors appear to think that Germany has in this matter some considerable body of sympathizers in the universities of Great Britain.  They are gravely mistaken.  Never within our lifetime has this country been so united on any great political issue.  We ourselves have a real and deep admiration for German scholarship and science.  We have many ties with Germany, ties of comradeship, of respect, and of affection.  We grieve profoundly that, under the baleful influence of a military system and its lawless dreams of conquest, she whom we once honored now stands revealed as the common enemy of Europe and of all peoples which respect the law of nations.  We must carry on the war on which we have entered.  For us, as for Belgium, it is a war of defense, waged for liberty and peace.

Sir CLIFFORD ALLBUTT, Regius Professor of Physics, Cambridge.

T.W.  ALLEN, Reader in Greek, Oxford.

E. ARMSTRONG, Pro-Provost of Queen’s College, Oxford.

E.V.  ARNOLD, Professor of Latin, University College of North Wales.

Sir C.B.  BALL, Regius Professor of Surgery, Dublin.

Sir THOMAS BARLOW, President of the Royal College of Physicians, London.

BERNARD BOSANQUET, formerly Professor of Moral Philosophy, St. Andrews.

A.C.  BRADLEY, formerly Professor of Poetry, Oxford.

W.H.  BRAGG, Cavendish Professor of Physics, Leeds.

Sir THOMAS BROCK, Membre d’honneur de la Societe des Artistes Francais.

A.J.  BROWN, Professor of Biology and Chemistry of Fermentation,
University of Birmingham.

JOHN BURNET, Professor of Greek, St. Andrews.

J.B.  BURY, Regius Professor of Modern History, Cambridge.

Sir W.W.  CHEYNE, Professor of Clinical Surgery, King’s College, London,
President of the Royal College of Surgeons.