Whether they liked it or not, now that the French had declared war on Belgium, Leopold II could only bite the bullet and follow suit.
Leopold II was incapable of doing something as shameless as fighting without a declaration of war, and the Belgian public would never accept it either.
On September 28, 1890, amid widespread panic, the Belgian Government issued a public telegram declaring war on France.
Without question, this declaration of war was not merely for the French to see; more importantly, it was a performance for Austria.
As if to say: Boss, your little brother has already gone in. Now it's your turn.
That afternoon, Franz delivered an anti-aggression speech before the Imperial Parliament, condemning France's shameless conduct. The representatives then unanimously passed the motion to declare war on France.
The following day, Franz issued the Address to the French People from Vienna Palace, listing a whole string of consequences of the war and calling upon the French people to rise up against the government's war of aggression.
Needless to say, such a document of persuasion was utterly useless. War had already been declared; naturally, no one would stop simply because he shouted a few words.
Of course, if the Italians were reluctantly counted among the French people, then this political performance could be considered perfect.
After the proclamation was issued, anti-war and anti-aggression movements broke out in Rome and swiftly spread to several Italian cities. If the Italian Independence Organization had not been so utterly incompetent, this might well have become another popular uprising.
On September 29, 1890, the French Government declared war on Austria. That same day, French troops invaded Belgium and Luxembourg, drawing back the curtain on the Continental War.
Inside the Hanover royal palace, George I was presently cursing without end. "Those damned