Whether willing or not, since France had declared war on Germany, Leopold II could only grit his teeth and follow suit.
Leopold II would never do something as shameful as waging war without declaration, and the Belgian public wouldn't allow it.
On September 28, 1890, amidst chaos, the Belgian government issued a public declaration of war against France.
There was no doubt that this declaration was not only for the French to see; it was more for Austria to witness.
It was as if declaring, "Big bro, your little bro has stepped up; now it's your turn."
That afternoon, Franz made an anti-aggression speech at the Imperial Parliament, denouncing the shameful acts of France, and then the representatives unanimously passed the declaration of war against France.
The next day, Franz issued the "Letter to the French People" at the Vienna Palace, listing a series of war consequences, calling on the French public to stand up against their government's aggressive war.
