by 8 a.m. to-morrow. Please assure the Belgian Government most emphatically that every doubt is precluded as to the correctness of our information concerning French plan, notwithstanding promises.
"Belgian answer must be to hand here by 2 p.m. to-morrow, German time. Your Excellency will, therefore, instantly wire answer hither, and, in addition, transmit it immediately upon receipt to General von Emmich, Union Hotel, Aix-la-Chapelle, through a member of Imperial Legation, preferably the Military Attache, by automobile.
"Belgian Government must receive impression as though entire instructions in this matter had reached you only to-day. Leave it to your discretion to suggest to Belgian Government that it may withdraw with troops to Antwerp, and that we, if there desired, could take over protection of Brussels against internal disturbances."
The history of the Ultimatum to Belgium clearly reveals the mechanism by means of which the reasons of the German declarations of war in the first days of August were prepared.
Anyone who follows its operations must "receive the impression" as though the "entire" facts established by the German Government in those days were the more deeply untrue the more they are confirmed by repeated asseverations that they were absolutely "reliable" and "indubitable."
It was a terrible tragedy of moral collapse that ushered in the war. But, at the same time, the satyr-play[1] was not to be lacking.
- ↑ Referring to the epilogue in lighter vein which followed a trilogy in the great tragic drama. (Translator's note.)
