Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1914-08-26
GERMANY AND BELGIUM NEUTRALITY

IN commenting on Germany violation OF Bel.
gan neutrality the Galveston News seeks 10 con
yey the impression that the Berlin government has
made a serious and unnecessary blundef and that
It's realization oi this - evidenced By the otter
rendered 10 Belgium some SIX OF seven days ago
to evacuate the country after Brussels had been
captured as speeding =. war conditions would per
mt Ia, deductions drawn by the News are ex-
ceedingly plausible. and would be- more 'onvinc-
ing were they not predicted on premises at var
lance with certain facts IN the case Of which the
editorial fails 10 take note
For instance. IT Is alleged that Germany NO
lated Belgian neutrality on the ground OF eHped
cncy and that il rance failed 10 ioruiy her Belgian
frontier because at Trust IN Germany pledge not
10 violate It,
The Chronicle does not so understand the ST
uation II 49, and has been Germany contention
that Belgian neutrality was openly violated by her
because Il had been secretly violated by France
long beforehand. As TO France faith in mamie
nance Of Belgian neutrality and her failure 10 for
hfy the frontier because Of It. It il an openly ac
knowlcdgcd fact tha, shc has been intriguing with
the Walluon inhabitants Of Belgium for q transfer
OF their portion OF the country to her flag The
Walloons are related to the French by racial rel
giou. and trmpcramental ties and then sympath
les are more than emphasized by similarity IN Ian
guagc. customs and traits hat they found the
The Walloons have little IN common with the
formation OF societies for securing a usion with
that country and the admission OF French officers
10 thclr military establishments and Notifications
The Walloons have little ~ commo nvyth the
Fl-mings who lnhabit the lower sections OF Bel
gum and have been rather offensive in the recent
past IN expressing deslre to unite with France In
view Of these facts It is reasonable to assume that
one reason Why France did not iortfy her Belgian
frontier was because m very short time she hop
ed 10 advance Il 10 the river Mcuse and avail her
self Of the strongly defended towns OF Liege and
Namur whose garrsons have been for some time
under the instructions and guidance OF French mil
ltnry experts
Because OF these facts It is also reasonable to
assume that Germany invaded Belgium not only
to secure an easy roadway into France, but to
force Belgium into a declaration OF peace before
her leanngs had persuaded her TO become aggres
sivc m the French cause. Germany violation oil
neutrality was onely defiant OF treaty agreements
bu, Frances violation which though secret was
no less papable and which has been going on for
the past ten years with the knowledge and aoqui-
essence OF Great Britain was shielded behind that
sophstry and technically that not countenance
ab.trac, tactics.
Asto England entrance into the war the VIC
lation OF Belgian neutrality may have FASTENED it,
bat It can scarcely be construed the sole pro
voking cause. as her alliance with France would
have doubtless brought it about anyway
Germany may have committed tactical blum
der but II history is fair IN recording the various
causes OF this wal it will concede that she wa
forced INTO It 10y French intrigue and diplomacy,
which has been cndcavorng to divide Belgium for
the past decade and which IT the truth must be
told has been preparing ever since 1872 against
the day when Gtavelote and Sedan could be
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