Tell us all Guest Dave - In order to stop a war that both Austria and Germany wanted what had Great Britain to offer that might have given the Austrians and Germans the idea that their goals would be achieved without having to go to war. I mean by the 28th July 1914 the Serbians had conceded and agreed to all but one of the Austrian demands, oddly enough some in Austria thought they could find accommodation on the last remaining point but the German Kaiser pressed them to hold out for Serbia's total capitulation - tell us GUEST Dave what Great Britain had to offer?

Great Britain had no formal allies in Europe at this time, but they did have existing treaties that they were solemnly bound to honour and they had "understandings" with the French. Great Britain asked for assurances from both France and Germany that Belgium's neutrality would NOT be violated. France gave such an assurance the Germans did not. Perhaps GUEST Dave, Great Britain could have left the Belgians hung out to dry, but then Great Britain's reputation would have been completely shot along with any trust in anything she'd put her name to. Great Britain would end up finding herself with an Army of 4.5 million men parked on her doorstep and the German High Seas Fleet within 4 hours steaming of London - OH Happy Days eh Dave.