Britain guarantees protection of the French coast

On 2 August 1914, after an almost three-hour stormy discussion, the British cabinet authorised the Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey, to give France an important promise. In the afternoon Grey informed the French ambassador, Paul Cambon, that if the German fleet came into the North Sea or through the English Channel to attack French coasts or shipping, the Royal Navy would give France all the protection in its power.

The commitment arose from agreements made before the war. Since 1912 the two states had agreed a division of tasks at sea: the main forces of the French fleet were concentrated in the Mediterranean, while the British were to watch over the northern waters. As a result the northern and western coasts of France were left almost without protection of their own. Paris argued that London had a moral obligation to defend them.

The guarantee was, however, limited. Grey stipulated that it did not yet mean Britain’s entry into the war and had to be backed by parliament. Nor did it include help from land forces. It was thus a partial promise, but for the first time in the crisis London had committed itself to concrete action on France’s side.

The decision deeply divided the Liberal government. John Burns, a minister opposed to involvement in a continental war, resigned, and soon afterwards John Morley did the same. Most ministers were still hesitating over whether Britain should take part in the war on land. That was decided only by the question of Belgium, to which Germany delivered an ultimatum that same evening.