Chapter IX: Appendix: IV

GERMANY'S DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST FRANCE

The following letter was handed by the German Ambassador to M. René Viviani, President of the Council, Minister for Foreign Affairs, during his farewell audience, August 3, 1914, at 6.45 P.M.

M. LE PRÉSIDENT,

The German administrative and military authorities have
established a certain number of flagrantly hostile acts
committed on German territory by French military aviators.
Several of these have openly violated the neutrality of Belgium
by flying over the territory of that country; one has attempted
to destroy buildings near Wesel; others have been seen in the
district of the Eifel; one has thrown bombs on the railway near
Karlsruhe and Nuremberg.

I am instructed, and I have the honour to inform your
Excellency, that in the presence of these acts of aggression the
German Empire considers itself in a state of war with France in
consequence of the acts of this latter Power.

At the same time I have the honour to bring to the knowledge of
your Excellency that the German authorities will detain French
mercantile vessels in German ports, but they will release them
if, within forty-eight hours, they are assured of complete
reciprocity.

My diplomatic mission having thus come to an end it only remains
for me to request your Excellency to be good enough to furnish
me with my passports, and to take the steps you consider
suitable to assure my return to Germany, with the staff of the
Embassy, as well as with the staff of the Bavarian Legation and
of the German Consulate-General in Paris.

Be good enough, M. le Président, to receive the assurances of my
deepest respect.

(Signed) SCHOEN.