862t.01/64: Telegram
The Ambassador in Belgium (Whitlock) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:45 p.m.]
60. With reference to my 59, April 9, 11 a.m. Had a long talk with Hymans today who said his Government is not altogether pleased with the French Government’s precipitate action. Hymans was at Bruges and the King in Paris for Easter holiday when on April 4 a message arrived from Millerand asking Belgium to join in military movement on right bank of Rhine. Hymans on April 5 instructed Gaiffier34 at Paris to state that although Belgium shared the French concern, it feared grave consequences might follow a forward movement on right bank of Rhine and that Belgium felt that before resorting to measures of military constraint, it would be better to summon Germany to evacuate neutral zone within a fixed time; that if, however, Allied Powers were agreed on common action Belgium was ready to join them. The French acted before a reply to this telegram could be received, thus confronting Belgian Government with a fait accompli, and much as they disliked, Hymans considered the important thing was to maintain Allied solidarity lest German public opinion conclude that France was isolated and that the Allies were no longer united. King and Ministers did not return until yesterday from their Easter holidays, and a Crown Council was held last evening, in which, although adhering to the views expressed in instructions of April 5 to the Belgian Ambassador at Paris, the resolution reported in my 59 was taken. Belgium will send a battalion of infantry to join the forces of France.
- Baron de Gaiffier d’Hestroy, Belgian Ambassador to France.↩