GUEST
Date: 22 Mar 15 linked to an article on the 'scrap of paper' phrase.

It was also used on a WW one recruitment poster.
A photo is on the Wikipedia link below & a bit more info.
It was a phrase used by German Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg refering to
"The Treaty of London of 1839, also called the First Treaty of London, the Convention of 1839, the Treaty of Separation, the Quintuple Treaty of 1839, or the Treaty of the XXIV articles, was a treatysigned on 19 April 1839 between the Concert of Europe, the United Kingdom of the Netherlandsand the Kingdom of Belgium.
Under the treaty, the European powers recognized and guaranteed the independence and neutrality of Belgium and established the full independence of the German-speaking part of Luxembourg. Article VII required Belgium to remain perpetually neutral, and by implication committed the signatory powers to guard that neutrality in the event of invasion. "

"The "Scrap of Paper"

... On 31 July 1914 the mobilisation of the Belgian Army was ordered, and the Belgian King at the same time publicly called Europe's attention to the fact that Germany, Great Britain and France were solemnly bound to respect and to defend the neutrality of his country.

When the German Empire invaded Belgium in August 1914 in violation of the treaty, the British declared war on 4 August.

Informed by the British ambassador that Britain would go to war with Germany over the latter's violation of Belgian neutrality, German Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg exclaimed that he could not believe that Britain and Germany would be going to war over a mere 'scrap of paper'...."

more : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_London_(1839)#The_.22Scrap_of_Paper.22

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