The Treaty of London signed in 1839, provided International recognition to the newly formed state of Belgium. It was interpreted by the Allies as a guarantee of Belgian independence and neutrality.
It was signed in London, on April 19, 1839, by Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia, His Majesty the King of the French, His Majesty the King of Prussia, and his Majesty the Emperor of the Russias, taking into consideration, as well as His Majesty the King of the Belgians.
Article 1. The Belgian territory shall be composed of the provinces of South Brabant, Liege, Namur, Hainault, West Flanders, Antwerp, and Limbourg.
(Articles 2 to 6 set down the territorial limits of Belgium, as well as its relationship with bordering states.)
Article 7. Belgium, within the limits specified in articles 1 to 7., shall form an independent and perpetually neutral State. It shall be bound to observe such neutrality over all other States.
In 1870, war broke out between Prussia and France. Both countries signed separate treaties with Great Britain that Belgium’s neutrality would not be violated.
Great Britain declared in each treaty that if one side violated Belgium’s neutrality, Britain was prepared to cooperate with the opposing side.
In early August 1914, the German Government, intending to violate Belgium neutrality and allowing them to reach France (specifically Paris) all the faster, asked the British government to effectively ignore what they called the “scrap of paper” treaty of 1870, which committed Britain to support France.
Britain refused. Britain gave Germany an ultimatum to retreat from Belgium by Midnight August 3rd , or they would declare war in defence of Belgium’s neutrality. On August 4, 1914, King George declared war after the expiration of the ultimatum to the German Empire.
In 1914, Canadian Foreign affairs were within the authority of the British Government. Hence, we were at war once Britain was at war. The announcement was made to the Canadian people by the then Governor General, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, and Strathearn. Prince Arthur was the third son and seventh child of Queen Victoria.
… and the rest is History.
