The Scrap of Paper - Enlist Today

whole: the image is positioned centrally, held within a black border. The title is positioned across the top and the subtitle across the bottom, both in red. The text occupies the majority of the poster, in black and in red, some held within black borders. All set against a white background. image: a reproduction of the seals and signatures of the representatives of Britain, Belgium, Austria, France, Germany and Russia from the Treaty of London of 1839, which guaranteed Belgian independence and neutrality. text: THE SCRAP OF PAPER Prussia's Perfidy - Britain's Bond. The Treaty of 1839 (which the German Chancellor tore up, remarking that it was only a 'a scrap of paper') said: 'BELGIUM . . . . SHALL FORM AN INDEPENDENT AND PERPETUALLY NEUTRAL STATE. IT SHALL BE BOUND TO OBSERVE SUCH NEUTRALITY TOWARDS ALL OTHER STATES.' These are the Seals and Signatures of the Six Nations who guaranteed Belgian Independence and Neutrality GREAT BRITAIN - Palmerston BELGIUM - Sylvain Van De Weyer AUSTRIA - Senfft FRANCE - H. Sebastiani GERMANY - Bülow RUSSIA - Pozzo Di Borgo Germany has trampled on the Treaty she signed. CAN BRITONS STAND BY WHILE GERMANY CRUSHES AN INNOCENT PEOPLE? ENLIST TO-DAY PUBLISHED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY RECRUITING COMMITTEE, LONDON. Poster No. 7 4921-14 HANBURY, TOMSETT AND CO., LONDON, N.W.

Parliamentary Recruiting Committee Poster No. 7. 4921-14. Additional piece of paper added lower right to correct printing of letter 'D' in 'TO-DAY' (letter originally printed back to front).

The 1839 Treaty of London guaranteed Belgium's independence and neutrality, and was signed by all the major European powers, including Britain and Prussia. At the start of the First World War, Germany broke the treaty by invading Belgium, using the lightly defended country as a route into France. Britain, compelled by the treaty to defend Belgium, protested to the German Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg on 4 August 1914. He, infamously, dismissed the treaty as 'a scrap of paper' and later the same day Britain declared war on Germany.

1554

Q33146

Drawer 46

1555. 10'' x 30 '' Poster. No.8 (Letterpress) A Call to Arms. Date November, 1914. Published by Parliamentary Recruiting Committee. Presented by Parliamentary Recruiting Committee. [sic - refers to a different poster]

1556. 10'' x 30 '' Poster. No.9 (Letterpress) In her hour of need your Country calls you. Date November, 1914. Published by Parliamentary Recruiting Committee. Presented by Parliamentary Recruiting Committee. [sic - refers to a different poster]

1557. 10'' x 30 '' Poster. No.10 (Letterpress) Fight for King and Empire our Brave Soldiers need Your Help. Date 1914. Published by Parliamentary Recruiting Committee. Presented by Parliamentary Recruiting Committee. [sic - refers to a different poster]