Sir Edward Grey on entering WW1 Video Lecture | How does UK Parliament's Education Service works? - Personal Learning

the following recording is a reenactment
of Sir Edward Grey's address to
Parliament on the eve of war August the
3rd 1914 this is an edited version of
the speech a full transcript is
available online at Parliament UK
forward slash education last week I
stated that we were working for peace
not only for this country but to
preserve the peace of Europe today
events move so rapidly that it is
exceedingly difficult to state with
technical accuracy the actual state of
affairs but it is clear that the Peace
of Europe cannot be preserved Russia and
Germany at any rate have declared war
upon each other first of all let me say
very shortly that we have consistently
worked with a single mind with all the
earnestness in our power to preserve
peace the house may be satisfied on that
point I would like the house to approach
this crisis in which we are now from the
point of view of British interests
British honour and British obligations
free from all passion as to why peace
has not yet been preserved the situation
in the present crisis has originated in
a dispute between Austria and Serbia
France are involved in it
because of their obligation to honor
under a definite alliance with Russia
that obligation of honor
cannot apply in the same way to us we
are not parties to the franco-russian
Alliance but for many years we have had
a long-standing friendship with ROMs
the French fleet is now in the
Mediterranean and the northern and
western coast of France are absolutely
undefended my own feeling is that if a
foreign fleet came down the English
Channel and bombarded and battered the
undefended coast of France we could not
stand aside
and see this going on practically within
sight of our eyes with our arms folded
looking on dispassionately doing nothing
I believe that would be the feeling of
this country things move very hurriedly
from hour to hour and I understand that
the German government would be prepared
if we would pledge ourselves to
neutrality to agree that its fleet would
not attack the northern coast of France
I have only heard that shortly before I
came to the house but it is far too
narrow an engagement for us and sir
there is the most serious consideration
becoming more serious every hour there
is the question of the neutrality of
Belgium i telegraphed to both Paris and
Berlin to say that it was essential for
us to know whether the French and German
governments were prepared to undertake
an engagement to respect the neutrality
of Belgium it now appears from the news
I have received today that an ultimatum
has been given to Belgium by Germany the
object of which was to offer Belgium
friendly relations with Germany on
condition that she would facilitate the
passage of German troops through Belgium
if it be the case that there has been
anything in the nature of an ultimatum
to Belgium asking her to compromise her
neutrality her independence is gone if
her independence goes the independence
of Holland will follow I asked the house
from the point of view of British
interests to consider what may be at
stake if France is beaten in a struggle
of life and death beaten to her knees
loses her position as a great power
become subordinate to the will and power
of one greater than herself if that were
to happen and if Belgium fell under the
same dominating influence and then
Holland and then Denmark then would not
mr. Gladstone's words come true that
just opposite to us
would be a common interest against the
unmeasured aggrandizement of any power
it may be said I suppose but we might
stand aside husband our strength and
that whatever happened in the course of
this war at the end of it intervened
with effect to put things right and to
adjust them to our own point of view if
in a crisis like this we run away from
those obligations of Armour and interest
as regards the Belgium treaty I doubt
whether whatever material force we might
have at the end it would be a very much
value in face of the respect that we
should have lost we are going to suffer
I am afraid terribly in this war whether
we are in it or whether we stand aside
the Belgium treaty obligations the
possible position in the Mediterranean
with damage to British interests and
what may happen to France from our
failure to support France if we were to
say that all those things matter nothing
whereas nothing and to say we would
stand aside
we should I believe sacrifice our
respect and good name and reputation
before the world and should not escape
the most serious and grave economic
consequences the most awful
responsibility is resting upon the
government in deciding what to advise
the House of Commons to do we work for
peace up to the last moment and beyond
the last moment how hard how
persistently and how earnestly we strove
for peace last week but that is over as
far as the peace of Europe is concerned
we are now face to face with the
situation and all the consequences which
it may yet have to unfold I have now put
the vital facts before the house and if
as seems not improbable we are forced
and rapidly forced to take our stand
upon those issues then I believe when
the country realizes what is at stake
but the real issues are the magnitude of
the impending dangers in the west of
Europe which I had endeavoured to
describe to the house we shall be
supported throughout not only by the
House of Commons but by the
determination the resolution the courage
and the endurance of the whole country