It is 111 years since Great Britain and its Empire declared war on Germany
H H Asquith’s Liberal Government, (he was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1905/08 and Prime Minister from 1908) was more concerned with social reform and Home Rule for Ireland, but was forced into a corner when Germany breached Belgium’s neutrality, and King Albert ordered his small Belgian army to stand and fight against the German invasion, which was based on the Schlieffen Plan, to outflank the French army and capture Paris. A decision that waylaid German plans by more than two weeks and led to several well documented German atrocities in Belgium, especially the ransacking of the town of Leuven (Louvain).
Britain, being a major signatory to the 1839 Treaty of London, of which Article VII guaranteed Belgian neutrality, had two choices, to turn a blind eye and let Germany get away with their move (as happened in the 1930s with Hitler’s annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland) or to come to Belgium’s aid.
Asquith’s government was pacifistic in its make up, and initially there were several government ministers who threatened to resign if Britain declared war. The Conservative Party opposition demanded that the government stand up to Germany and fulfil its treaty obligations towards Belgium.
Asquith realised that if Britain stood back and did nothing, his government would fall and in the ensuing General Election, the Conservatives would sweep to power and the country would go to war anyway. Therefore, when Germany refused Britain’s ultimatum to march back across the Belgian border, Britain declared war against Germany and general mobilisation of the army was ordered.
Fortunately for Britain, Asquith’s government contained one man who was a giant of his time and who we should all still thank for his foresight and planning between 1905 and 1912. Richard Burdon (Later 1st Viscount) Haldane was secretary of State for War, and without always being totally upfront with his cabinet colleagues, Haldane began and saw to fruition the reorganisation of the British Army following the issues that occurred in the Boer War, and in particular, he ensured that the reorganisation and formation of the Territorial Force along county lines was completed by 1908/09.
In addition, he met with the French military staff over several years, and agreed a plan of action for a British Expeditionary Force of six infantry divisions and two cavalry brigades to be despatched to France in the event of a European war against Germany. Therefore, Britain was prepared and had a plan of action in place by August 1914 thanks to Haldane.
As the war evolved, Haldane became more pessimistic and politically moved further to the left, serving as Lord Chancellor in Asquith’s government until it fell in 1915 and eventually served as Lord Chancellor in Ramsay McDonald’s first Labour government of 1924. Nevertheless, Britain would not have been in such a strong position in 1914 without his foresight and planning.
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