Diplomacy
Category
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1914
July
- 24
- German government backs Austrian ultimatum to SerbiaOn 24 July 1914 Berlin told the Entente powers that it approved Austria-Hungary's ultimatum and regarded the dispute with Serbia as a local matter.
- Grey proposes an international conference to prevent warOn 24 July 1914 Sir Edward Grey proposed that four powers jointly mediate between Vienna and St Petersburg before the crisis turned into a war.
- Belgium declares it will defend its neutralityOn 24 July 1914 the Belgian government announced that in the event of war it would uphold its neutrality whatever the consequences.
- 28
- Key eventAustria-Hungary declares war on SerbiaOn 28 July 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia by telegram. That same night Belgrade was shelled and the First World War began.
- German government rejects British conference proposalOn 28 July 1914 Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg confirmed that Germany would not take part in the conference of the powers proposed by Britain.
August
- 02
- Germany delivers an ultimatum to BelgiumOn the evening of 2 August 1914 Germany demanded that Belgium allow its troops to pass through, giving it 12 hours to reply.
- Britain guarantees protection of the French coastOn 2 August 1914 the British government promised France that the Royal Navy would defend its coasts against the German fleet in the North Sea and the Channel.
- 03
- Belgium rejects German demandsOn the morning of 3 August 1914 Belgium rejected the German ultimatum. It held that allowing troops to pass through would mean the loss of the nation's honour.
- Britain pledges to defend Belgian neutralityOn 3 August 1914 Sir Edward Grey set out Britain's obligations to Belgium and France in the Commons. London promised support for the Belgians.
- Key eventGermany declares war on FranceOn 3 August 1914 Germany declared war on France, citing invented French air raids. The war on two fronts had begun.
- Italy declares neutralityOn 3 August 1914 Italy declared its neutrality, holding that the Triple Alliance did not oblige it to join a war started by Austria-Hungary.
- 04
- Great Britain issues an ultimatum to GermanyOn 4 August 1914 London demanded that Germany respect Belgian neutrality by midnight. The chancellor called the treaty a "scrap of paper".
- Key eventBritain declares war on GermanyAt 11 p.m. London time on 4 August 1914 the ultimatum expired. Britain and its whole empire found themselves at war with Germany.
- Belgium breaks off diplomatic relations with GermanyOn 4 August 1914, after German troops crossed the border, Belgium broke off relations with Germany and handed the German minister his passports.
- Key eventGermany declares war on BelgiumOn 4 August 1914 Germany announced to Belgium that it would use force and entered its territory. The chancellor admitted he was breaking international law.
- Secret alliance between Germany and the Ottoman EmpireContemporary chronicles record the secret alliance of Germany and Turkey under 4 August 1914. The treaty had in fact been signed in Constantinople on 2 August.
- 06
- Key eventAustria-Hungary declares war on RussiaOn 6 August 1914 the Austro-Hungarian ambassador in St Petersburg handed over the declaration of war. The monarchy's main front shifted to Galicia.
- Key eventSerbia declares war on GermanyOn 6 August 1914 Serbia declared war on Germany, ally of Austria-Hungary. The two states had no common border, but the declaration was a political statement.
- Franco-British naval conventionOn 6 August 1914 France and Britain concluded a naval convention in London. A French admiral took command of the Allied forces in the Mediterranean.
- 22
- Key eventAustria-Hungary declares war on BelgiumContemporary chronicles date Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Belgium to 22 August 1914, but the Belgians received the note only on 28 August.
- Germany accepts the proposal to neutralise the Congo BasinOn 22 August 1914 Germany agreed to Belgium's proposal to neutralise the African free trade zone. Britain and France did not support it.
- 23
- Germany breaks off diplomatic relations with JapanOn 23 August 1914, after the Japanese ultimatum expired, Germany broke off relations with Japan. Ambassador Arthur von Rex left Tokyo.
- Key eventJapan declares war on GermanyOn 23 August 1914 Japan declared war on Germany. The war spread to the Far East and the Pacific, and Japan reached for Germany's possessions in Asia.
- 25
- Japan breaks off diplomatic relations with Austria-HungaryOn 25 August 1914 Japan broke off diplomatic relations with Austria-Hungary. The ambassador, Baron Ladislaus Müller von Szentgyörgy, left Tokyo.
- Japan declares a state of war with Austria-HungaryOn 25 August 1914 Japan and Austria-Hungary found themselves at war. The reason was the Austro-Hungarian cruiser Kaiserin Elisabeth, stationed at Tsingtao.
September
- 19
- Britain and France guarantee the integrity of Belgium's coloniesOn 19 September 1914 Britain and France assured Belgium that it would keep its colonies after the war, above all the Belgian Congo.
- Secret agreement between Russia and RomaniaIn autumn 1914 Russia, in a secret agreement, recognised Romania's claim to Transylvania and part of Bukovina in return for Bucharest's benevolent neutrality.
October
- 30
- Allied ultimatum to TurkeyOn 30 October 1914 London gave Turkey 12 hours to expel the German missions and the crews of Goeben and Breslau, or face a break in relations.
- The Entente breaks off relations with TurkeyOn 30 October 1914 the ambassadors of Russia, Britain and France demanded their passports in Constantinople. War with Turkey was only days away.
November
- 02
- Key eventRussia declares war on TurkeyOn 2 November 1914 Nicholas II issued a manifesto of war with Turkey. The Tsar said it would open Russia's way to its Black Sea aims, that is, the Straits.
- Serbia at war with TurkeyOn 2 November 1914 Serbia, Russia's ally, found itself at war with the Ottoman Empire. The two countries had no common border and did not fight each other.
- 05
- Key eventBritain and France declare war on TurkeyOn 5 November 1914 Britain and France declared war on Turkey. London abandoned its century-old policy of defending the Ottoman Empire against Russia.
- Belgium rejects papal mediationAccording to a British chronology, on 5 November 1914 the Belgian government rejected papal mediation. A few days earlier Benedict XV had called for peace.
- 06
- Turkey breaks off relations with BelgiumOn 6 November 1914 the Ottoman Empire broke off diplomatic relations with Belgium. The Belgian minister left Constantinople, but no war was declared.
- France amends its contraband listOn 6 November 1914 France issued a new decree on contraband and applying the Declaration of London, almost identical to the British rules of 29 October.
- 23
- Netherlands Overseas Trust is foundedIn November 1914 Dutch merchants, shipowners and bankers founded the NOT, a private company guaranteeing the Allies that overseas goods would not reach Germany.
- Portugal announces cooperation with BritainOn 23 November 1914 the Portuguese parliament authorised the government to take part in the war at Britain's side "when and how it deems necessary".
December
- 05
- Entente démarche in Athens, Sofia and BucharestAccording to the British chronology, on 5 December 1914 the Entente took steps in Athens, Sofia and Bucharest to secure help for embattled Serbia.
- Serbia will not conclude a separate peaceOn 5 December 1914 Nikola Pašić formed a coalition government in Niš. On 7 December it declared that Serbia, loyal to its allies, would fight to victory.