CHAPTER VII GERMANY INVADES BELGIUM GERMANY declared war upon Russia on Au- gust I, following Russia's refusal to demobilize. The next morning her troops were reported in Luxemburg, where they promptly took possession of the principality. Meanwhile in London the sus- picion of German purpose to move against France by way of Belgium was growing. France, in re- sponse to an inquiry from Sir Edward Grey, had already agreed to respect the neutrality of Belgium. Germany had merely agreed to respect the integrity of the kingdom and reimburse it for any damage that might flow from German operations in Belgium. When Sir Edward Grey again asked for a less " narrow " pledge, the British ambassador in Ber- lin was told that it was too late, that German troops were already across the frontier and that Germany had been compelled to take such steps by " imperious necessity." The British Government replied with an ultimatum, which called forth the celebrated in- quiry of the German Chancellor, von Bcthmann Hollweg: *' Was England to make war for a mere ' scrap of paper ' ? " This " paper " was the Eng- lish pledge to protect the neutrality of Belgium. 43