PENETRATION OF BELGIAN TERRITORY.
Statement by Prime Minister Asquith in House of Commons, Aug. 5.
Mr. Bonar Law—May I ask the Prime Minister if he has any information he can give us today?
The Prime Minister—Our Ambassador at Berlin received his passports at 7 o'clock last evening and since 11 o'clock last night a state of war has existed between Germany and ourselves.
We have received from our Minister at Brussels the following telegram:
I have just received from Minister for Foreign Affairs [that is the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs] a note of which the following is a literal translation:
"Belgian Government regret to have to inform his Majesty's Government that this morning armed forces of Germany penetrated into Belgian territory in violation of engagements assumed by treaty.
Belgian Government are further resolved to resist by all means in their power.
Belgium appeals to Great Britain and France and Russia to co-operate, as guarantors in defense of her territory.
There would be concerted and common action with the object of resisting the forcible measures employed by Germany against Belgium, and at the same time of guarding the maintenance for future of the independence and integrity of Belgium.