Postcard of Kaiser Wilhelm II and Kaiser Franz Joseph, in the Secessionist style. Kaiser Wilhelm is wearing the uniform and shako of the Death's Head Hussars.
Völkerkrieg (people's war)1914; In Treue FestPeople's WarFirm in Loyalty
"[German Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg] said that the step taken by His Majesty's Government was terrible to a degree; just for a word — 'neutrality,' a word which in war time had so often been disregarded — just for a scrap of paper Great Britain was going to make war on a kindred nation who desired nothing better than to be friends with her."
Sir E. Goschen, British Ambassador to Berlin reporting to Sir Edward Grey, British Foreign Secretary, on his August 4, 1914 meeting with German Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg. Claiming French troops were about to attack through Belgium, Germany asked for free passage through Belgium to strike at France. Its request rejected, Germany invaded Belgium which appealed to Britain for diplomatic intervention on behalf of Belgium. Britain gave Germany until midnight (Berlin time) on August 4 for a 'satisfactory reply', that is, that German troops would leave Belgium, or His Majesty's Government would take 'all steps in their power to uphold the neutrality of Belgium,' including going to war. Goschen found Bethmann Hollweg 'agitated' at his failure to keep Britain neutral.Goschen wrote his report in London on August 8, after his return from Berlin. The phrase, 'a scrap of paper' became emblematic of German disregard for international law.
Collected Diplomatic Documents Relating to the Outbreak of the European War, page 111, publisher: His Majesty's Stationery Office by Harrison and Sons, publication date: 1915
scrap of paper, neutrality, 1914-08-04, Bethmann-Hollweg, August, 1914
