I said that I could only adhere to the answer that, as far as things had gone at present, we could not take any engagement.
M. Cambon urged that Germany had from the beginning rejected proposals that might have made for peace. It could not be to England's interest that France should be crushed by Germany. We should then be in a very diminished position with regard to Germany. In 1870 we had made a great mistake in allowing an enormous increase of German strength, and we should now be repeating the mistake. He asked me whether I could not submit his question to the Cabinet again.
I said that the Cabinet would certainly be summoned as soon as there was some new development, but at the present moment the only answer I could give was that we could not undertake any definite engagement.
I am, &c.
E. GREY.
No. 122.
Sir E. Goschen to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received August 1.)
(Telegraphic.) Berlin, July 31, 1914.
Neutrality of Belgium, referred to in your telegram of 31st July to Sir F. Bertie.