Key Facts
The Treaty of London had guaranteed Belgian neutrality
The Belgian coastline is vital to Britain - it can control access to the Thames and London
The Entente Cordiale was not an alliance
But there were secret naval and military arrangements between Britain and France
France expected a major British contribution to her defence - the BEF (army) to be sent to France and the Royal navy to protect the Channel
The British government was divided and faced serious domestic problems, fighting in Ireland, the suffragettes and trade union strikes
The government could not mention the secret agreements publicly and therefore had to make vague statements about its intentions. This only confused the Germans who then convinced themselves that the British would not intervene
Britain could not accept that one country alone should dominate Europe. Britain had fought against Louis XIV and Napoleon Bonaparte to prevent this. Now it would confront the Kaiser and in 1939 it would confront Hitler. If Germany defeated France in 1914 then Germany would be too powerful. She had to be stopped.
Read pages 30-31 and answer these questions
What was Bethman-Hollweg's view of Belgian neutrality?
What evidence is there that a clearer statement of Britain's intentions would have prevented war?
What does Asquith have to say about this possibility? (source Q)
Why did few people in 1914 dread war?
What domestic situations in some countries persuaded people that going to war had its advantages?
Document exercise
Compare Source O with Source Q
How has the portrayal of Germany changed between August 1914 and the end of 1914 (source F page 29 and source P page 31) -
In which one is Germany looking more ferocious, cruel and bloodstained?
How does the German character try to justify his actions?
Why do you think this change has occurred?
Britain's Responsibility For the War- Help Sheet
Read page 30 and complete the blanks-
By signing the Treaty of........................, Britain had promised to...........................
.............................................................................even if that meant..................
........................................................
Germany thought this was going .................................................................
Strong feelings were aroused in.................................. by the German.................
.........................of............................................German hostility to.....................
was equally great.
Read page 31 and complete-
In Europe in 1914 too few people ...........................................war.
In Russia and........................... there were people who saw war as.......................
........................................................................................................................
In Germany in 1912 it as decided that war could begin sometime after.....................
.............................. when improvements to the ..................................................
would be completed.
