Sir Edward Goschen, to whom I had said it was important to have an answer soon, said he hoped the answer would not be too long delayed.  The German Minister for Foreign Affairs then gave Sir Edward Goschen to understand that he rather doubted whether they could answer at all, as any reply they might give could not fail, in the event of war, to have the undesirable effect of disclosing, to a certain extent, part of their plan of campaign.  I telegraphed at the same time to Brussels to the Belgian Government, and I got the following reply from Sir Francis Villiers: 

Belgium expects and desires that other powers will observe and uphold her neutrality, which she intends to maintain to the utmost of her power.  In so informing me, Minister for Foreign Affairs said, that, in the event of the violation of the neutrality of their territory, they believed that they were in a position to defend themselves against intrusion.  The relations between Belgium and her neighbors were excellent, and there was no reason to suspect their intentions; but he thought it well, nevertheless, to be prepared against emergencies.

It now appears from the news I have received today—­which has come quite recently, and I am not yet quite sure how far it has reached me in an accurate form—­that an ultimatum has been given to Belgium by Germany, the object of which was to offer Belgium friendly relations with Germany on condition that she would facilitate the passage of German troops through Belgium.  Well, Sir, until one has these things absolutely definitely, up to the last moment, I do not wish to say all that one would say if one were in a position to give the House full, complete, and absolute information upon the point.  We were sounded in the course of last week as to whether, if a guarantee were given that, after the war, Belgian integrity would be preserved, that would content us.  We replied that we could not bargain away whatever interests or obligations we had in Belgian neutrality.

Shortly before I reached the House I was informed that the following telegram had been received from the King of the Belgians by our King—­King George: 

Remembering the numerous proofs of your Majesty’s friendship and that of your predecessors, and the friendly attitude of England in 1870, and the poof of friendship she has just given us again, I make a supreme appeal to the diplomatic intervention of your Majesty’s Government to safeguard the integrity of Belgium.

Diplomatic intervention took place last week on our part.  What can diplomatic intervention do now?  We have great and vital interests in the independence—­and integrity is the least part—­of Belgium.  If Belgium is compelled to submit to allow her neutrality to be violated, of course the situation is clear.  Even if by agreement she admitted the violation of her neutrality, it is clear she could only do so under duress.  The smaller States in that region of