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614 General History of Europe . demanded of France, Russia's ally, what she proposed to do. The French government replied that France would take such action as her interests might require ; whereupon Germany declared war on France, August 3. But Germany was in such a hurry to strike first that her troops were marching on France a day before war was declared. On August 2 they occupied the neutral country of Luxemburg, in spite of the protests of its ruler. Germany issued an ulti- matum to Belgium, giv- ing her twelve hours, from 7 P. M. to 7 A. M., to decide whether she would permit the Ger- man troops to cross the little kingdom on their way to France. If she consented, Germany promised to respect her territory and people ; if she refused, Germany would treat her as an enemy. Now others as well as the Belgians could see why Germany had constructed such an abundance of railroad sidings close to the Belgian boundary. The Belgian government replied to the Ger- man demand with great firmness and dignity, urging that her neutrality had been guaranteed by the powers, including Prussia, and that she should resist any attempt to violate it. 1116. Great Britain enters the War. It was almost inevitable that Great Britain should be drawn into the conflict. British statesmen made repeated and strenuous efforts to bring about a conference of the powers for the purpose of effecting a peaceful LITTLE BELGIUM BOLDLY REFUSES TO LET BIG GERMANY PASS A cartoon from Punch, used by permission