WHY , WE WENT TO WAR IN 1914 [To the
Editor of THE SPECTATOR] Sut,—" Janus " seems to think that it was only the invasion of Belgium that made us go to war in 1914. Lord Snowden, on the contrary, in his autobiography, says that we had a secret undertaking with France to go to her help whenever she should be attacked• by Germany, and that the invasion of
Belgium was welcomed by our Goverrunent as affording ground for a popular appeal to the nation.
It is, indeed, obvious that for selfish reasons alone we could not possibly allow France to be overrun and conquered by Aughton Rectory, Ormskirk.
[" Janus " writes : " It is perfectly clear from Lord Grey's own memoirs (Twenty-Five Years) that there was no secret understanding with France. Grey writes that one of the dominant convictions in his mind in the last days of July,
1914, was ' that no pledge must be given, no hope even held out, to France and Russia, which it was doubtful whether this country would fulfil,' and his inability to give Cambon, the French Ambassador, the desired assurance is said to have reduced that veteran diplomat to tears. It is within the recollection of everyone who was anywhere near the heart of things at that time that it was the invasion of Belgium which saved Cabinet, Parliament and people in this country from being split in half."]
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