On what date did Britain declare war on Germany following an " unsatisfactory reply " to the British ultimatum that Belgium must be kept neutral ?
The following Austro - Russian talks were sabotaged by Austria ’s refusal to abandon any of the demands on Serbia As a preparatory move in case a war did break out , and Britain were to become involved , Winston Churchill , First Lord of the British Admiralty , ordered the British fleet not to disperse as planned , arguing that news of the British move might serve as a deterrent to war , and thus help persuade Germany to put pressure on Austria to abandon some of the more outrageous demands in their ultimatum .