Belgium note reply to declaration of war by Austria-Hungary

Belgian Gray Book

'''No. 78. - Monsieur Davignon, Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Baron Fallon, Belgian Minister at the Hague.'''

Telegram

Antwerp, August 29, 1914

Please inform the Austrian through the minister for foreign affairs that I have received Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Belgium, and add the following:

Belgium has always entertained friendly relations with all her neighbors without distraction. She had scrupulously fulfilled the duties imposed upon her by her neutrality. If she has not been able to accept Germany's proposals, it is because those proposals contemplated the violation of her engagements toward Europe, engagements which form the conditions of the creation of the Belgian Kingdom. She has been unable to admit that a people, however weak they may be, can fall in their duty and sacrifice their honor by yielding to force. The government have waited, not only until the ultimatum has expired, but also until Belgian territory had been violated by German troops, before appealing to France and Great Britain, guarantors of her neutrality, under the same terms as are Germany and Austria-Hungary; to cooperate in the name and in virtue of the treaties in defense of Belgian territory. By repelling the Invaders by force of arms, she has not even committed an hostile act as laid down by the provisions of article 10 of The Hague Convention respecting the rights and duties of neutral powers.

Germany herself had recognized that her attack constitutes a violation of international law, and, being unable to justify it, she has pleaded her strategical interests.

Belgium formally denies the allegation that Austrian and Hungarian Nationals have suffered treatment in Belgium contrary to the most primitive demands of humanity.

The Belgian Government, from the very commencement of hostilities have issued the strictest orders for the protection of Austrian-Hungarian persons and property.

Davignan