cerned. Had I stood aside when, in defiance of pledges to which
my kingdom was a party, the soil of Belgium was violated and her cities
laid desolate, when the very life of the French Nation was threatened
with extinction, I should have sacrificed my honor and given to
destruction the liberties of my empire and of mankind. I rejoice that
every part of the empire is with me in this decision.

Paramount regard for treaty faith and the pledged word of rulers and
peoples is the common heritage of Great Britain and of the empire.

My peoples in the self-governing dominions have shown beyond all doubt
that they wholeheartedly indorse the grave decision which it was
necessary to take.

My personal knowledge of the loyalty and devotion of my oversea
dominions had led me to expect that they would cheerfully make the great
efforts and bear the great sacrifices which the present conflict
entails. The full measure in which they have placed their services and
resources at my disposal fills me with gratitude and I am proud to be
able to show to the world that my peoples oversea are as determined as
the people of the United Kingdom to prosecute a just cause to a
successful end.

The Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Dominion
of New Zealand have placed at my disposal their naval forces, which have
already rendered good service for the empire. Strong expeditionary
forces are being prepared in Canada, in Australia, and in New Zealand
for service at the front, and the Union of South Africa has released all
British troops and has undertaken important military responsibilities
the discharge of which will be of the utmost value to the empire.
Newfoundland has doubled the numbers of its branch of the royal naval
reserve and is sending a body of men to take part in the operations at
the front. From the Dominion and Provincial Governments of Canada large
and welcome gifts of supplies are on their way for the use both of my
naval and military forces and for the relief of the distress in the
United Kingdom which must inevitably follow in the wake of war. All
parts of my oversea dominions have thus demonstrated in the most
unmistakable manner the fundamental unity of the empire amid all its
diversity of situation and circumstance.

Message to India.

To the Princes and peoples of my Indian Empire: Among the many incidents
that have marked the unanimous uprising of the populations of my empire
in defense of its unity