Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-22
CHARGES BY GERMANY
DENIED BY BELGIUM
Statement Issued by Legation in
Washington Regarding Alleged
Neutrality Violation.
Quotes Records to Prove No Military
Agreement With England Ex-
| listed Prior to War,


agreement between Belgium and Eng
land. either defensive or offensive. as
Germany has claimed, according to a
statement issued by the Belgian lega-
ton. This was given out to contro-
vert the charge made by Germany that
documents have recently been dis
covered in the archives at Brussels
showing that such a pact was in ex-
istence. and that the neutrality of Bel
gfum had been violated before the
German invasion.
The statement says:
The Belgian legation has just re-
ceived the copies of the Gray Book. 1t
is evident from these documents that
there has never existed any military
agreement between Belgium and Eng
land, either defensive or offensive. such
as the German government asserts to
have been in existence since 1906.
Extracts From Gray Book.
The following extracts from the Gray
Book speak for themselves:
mo 2S-Ofer of intervention by
England-Note handed by Sir Francis
H. Vtlliers, British minister, to the
minister of foreign affairs of Belgium:
BRUSSELS, August 4. 1914.
81 am instructed to inform the Bel
gian government that if Germany ex-
ercise pressure for the purpose of COM
pelling Belgium to abandon her posi-
ton of a neutral country, the govern
ment of his Britannia majesty expects
Belgium to resist by every possible
means. The government of his Brit
fannie majesty is ready, in that event,
to join with Russia and France, if de-
,ir 1xyR n1ey fn off m he l.
gian government at once common
action for the purpose of resisting the
use of force by Germany against Bel
GUM, and at the same time to offer
guarantee to maintain the 1ndepen-
dence and integrity of Belgium in the
future.
England Offers Alliance.
"'No. 37-Offer of England of an al
lance with object of assuring the neu-
trality of Belgium against the pres
sure of Germany:
LONDON, August 4, 1914.
1.-The minister for foreign affairs
has informed the British ministers in
Norway, Holland and Belgium that
Great Britain expects that these three
Kingdoms will resist the pressure of
Germany and maintain neutrality. They
will be supported in their resistance by
England, who in such case is ready to
cooperate with France and Russia, if
such is the desire of these three gov
ernments, in offering an alliance to the
said governments to repel the employ
lnent of force against them by Ger
many, and a guarantee for the future
maintenance of the independence and
the integrity of the three Kingdoms
II pointed out that Belgium is neu-
trail in perpetuity. The minister of
foreign affairs replied: 1t is for the
event of neutrality being violated,
COUNT DE LALAING.
"Relgian Minister in London"
Belgium Appeals to Powers.
NO 4o-Belgium appeals to the pow
tiers addressed to the ministers of Eng
land, Russia and France in Belgium:
Bruxelles, August 4, 1914.
Monsieur lie Ministre:
The Belgian government regrets to
have to announce to your excellency
that this morning the armed forces OF
Germany penetrated into Belgium Ter
ritory, violating the engagements
which they have taken by treaty. The
Belgian government are firmly decldeo
10 resist by all means in their power.
belgium appeals to England. to
France and to Russia to cooperate as
guarantors in the defense of her terri
fory. There should be a concerted and
common action, having as it's object to
resist the measures of force employed
by Germany against Belgium. and at
the same time to guarantee the maui IN
tenance of the independence and of the
integrity of Belgium for the future
Belgium is happy to be able to declare
that she will undertake the defense OF
the fortified places. -
minister of Foreign Affairs
Alleges Absence Of Evidence.
Where is to be found the alleged
military convention said to have been
concluded in 1906 with England?
Where is any trace of the alleged agree
ment said to have existed since 1906
between the allies and Belgium to