Belgian Congo declares neutrality

Neutrality of Congo, August 7, 1914

No. 57 Monsleur Davignan, Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, to the Belgian Ministers at London and Paris.

Telegram - translation

Brussels, August 7, 1914 Belgian trusts that war will not be extended to Central Africa. The governor of the Belgian Congo has received instructions to keeping a strictly defensive attitude. Please ask the British and French Governments whether they intend to proclaim the neutrality of the British colonies in the conventional basin of the Congo and the French Congo, in accordance with article 11 of the general act of Berlin. A telegraph from Bonia reports that hostilties are probable between the French and German in the Ubangi.

Davignon