July 30th 1914: Russia ordered a general mobilization on this date. Great Britain received a German proposal which did much to change Britain’s “overwhelmingly pacific” attitude. The Germans wanted Britain to remain neutral, and their proposal virtually admitted that Germany intended to violate Belgium’s neutrality. This despite the fact Germany, France, and Britain had pledged to protect Belgium’s neutrality as signatories of a treaty in 1839. This German proposal was immediately rejected by Britain.
In the meantime The Canadian Government’s Militia Council met on this day and announced that should war break out, Canada would send a first contingent of twenty-two thousand five hundred men in support of Britain and its allies.