9.30 A.M.: Grey wires Goschen instructing him to tell the German government Britain is “bound to protest against this violation of a treaty to which Germany is a party in common with themselves, and must request an assurance that the demand made upon Belgium will not be proceeded with, and that her neutrality will be respected by Germany”.
He is to ask for an immediate reply. The message is in the form of a request, not an ultimatum, and does not say what the British government will do if the request is ignored.