But the violation of the Belgian treaty changed the situation in a twinkling.

The House of Commons at once took its stand in favour of intervention.

All members of the cabinet, excepting John Morley and John Burns, who resigned, immediately aligned themselves on the side of war.

In the minds of British statesmen the violation of this treaty gave Britain no choice.

Germany thus forced Great Britain into the war, just as, two and a half years afterward, the Prussian war lords compelled the United States to take up arms.