Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1914, Supplement, The World War

File No. 763.72/77

The Minister in Belgium (Whitlock) to the Secretary of State

American Legation,
Brussels, August 3, 1914, 11 a.m.
[Received 1:25 p.m.]

[Telegram]

French¹ representative last night presented ultimatum expiring this morning demanding privilege of sending troops across Belgian territory. Belgian Government refused this morning. It is reliably reported that German forces have already invaded Belgium. Rumors that engagement at Visé with considerable fatalities.

Whitlock

1. The following note, dated October 31, 1919, was attached to this telegram: “Mr. Whitlock says this should read ‘German’ for ‘French’ as the first word. A mistake was made—‘we were up all night’, he says.”