On what date did Britain declare war on Germany following an " unsatisfactory reply " to the British ultimatum that Belgium must be kept neutral ?
The Russian Ambassador to the Court of St. James warned Prince Lichnowsky that “ Only a government that wanted war could possibly write such a note Austrian ultimatum . ” Upon reading an account of a meeting in which Count Berchtold informed the Russian Ambassador of his country ’s peaceful intentions towards Russia , Wilhelm wrote on the margin “ absolutely superfluous ! ” and called Berchtold an “ Ass ! ” Also on the 24th , when Count Berchtold met with the Russian chargé d'affaires , this prompted furious complaints from Berlin who warned that Austria should not engage in any sort of talks with any of the other powers in case a compromise might be worked out .