Our nation is in arms and trembling with eagerness to defend the land of our fathers.
France is faithfully supported by her ally, Russia. She is upheld by the loyal friendship of England, and, already, from all points of the civilized world, go out to her expressions of sympathy and good-will, for she represents today, once again before the universe, liberty, justice, and reason.
Lift up your hearts! Long live France!
POSITION OF THE REPUBLIC.
Address of Premier Viviani to the French Senate and House of Deputies, Aug. 4.
This speech has been called by M. Jusserand, French Ambassador to the United States, "the chief document printed up to now [Nov. 1] in which the French situation, with reference to the present war, has been expounded."
Gentlemen, the German Ambassador left Paris yesterday, after having notified us of the existence of a state of war.
The Government is in duty bound to give Parliament a truthful recital of the events which, within less than ten days, have brought about war in Europe and obliged France, peaceful and strong, to defend her frontier against an attack the premeditated suddenness of which emphasizes its odious injustice.
This attack, entirely inexcusable and begun before any declaration of war notified us of it, is the last act in a plan whose origin and aim I intend to lay bare before our republic and before civilized public opinion.