Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-08
BEL CUM LEGATION FURNISHES
STATEMENT ANSWERING INQUIRIES

Belgian territory as soon as peace is
concluded.
Sd If Belgium observes a friendly
attitude, Germany is ready in CO.
operation with the authorities of the
Government of Belgium, to buy for
cash everything that is necessary for
her troops, and to pay indemnities for
damage done in Belgium; but if Bel
GUM behaves in a hostile manner
against the troops, and in particular
places difficulties in the way of their
advance by opposition by the fortifi-
cations of the Meuse, or by the des-
truction of roads, railways. tunnels or
other works, Germany will be obliged
to consider Belgium as an enemy.
I'm that case Germany will enter
into no agreement with the Kingdom,
but will allow the further relationship
of the two states to be left to the de-
cision of arms. The Germany govern
ment feels that it is justified in hoping
that this eventuality will not material
ize, and that the Belgian Government
will know how to take appropriate
measures to prevent it's materializa-
ton. In that case the friendly relations
which unite the two neighboring states
will become closer and more lasting
Such is the German Note. 1t will
be noticed that there is no question
of the alleged entry of French aviators
and officers into Belgium. as has been
stated in several papers here. The
document in fact knocks that fable on
the head. The only reason given for
the violation of Belgian territory is
the alleged intention of the French
Army to march upon Givet and Namur.
This assertion is supported by no
proof, and is denied by the French
Government, which officially declared
to Belgium and England it's intentions
of not violating Belgian territory. On
the contrary. the prenleditated inten-
ton of Germany to violate Belgian
neutrality is proved in the most ire
futable way, namely by the affirma-
ton of the German Secretary of State,
himself, and by that of the German
Chancellor.
ITO the request of Sir William Cos
chen, the English Ambassador in Ber-
lin, to be allowed to know if Germany
would pledge herself to respect the
neutrality of Belgium, the German
Secretary of State replied that this
neutrality had already been violated
by Germany Herr Won Jagow went
again into the reasons why the I'm
perial Government had been obliged
to take this step, namely. that they
had to advance into France by the
quickest and easiest way so as to be
able to get well ahead with their oper-
ations and endeavor to strike some de-
cisive blow as early as possible.
1t was matter of life and
death to them for. If they had
gone by the more Southern route,
they could not have hoped, in view of
the paucity of the roads and the
strength of the fortresses, to have got
through without formidable opposition
entailing great loss of time. This loss
of time would mean time gained by the
Russians for the bringing up of their
troops to the German frontier. Rapid
ity of action was the great German as
set, while that of Russia was the in
exhaustible supply Of troops (Official
report of the British Ambassador in
Berlin to the British Government.)
"This conversation preceded by a
few minutes that in which the German
abyss into which Germany was falling,
uttered these celebrated words; Just
for a word, neutrality, a word which
in war times has been so often disre-
garded. Just for a scrap of paper.
Great Britain is going to make war on
a kindred nation. At what price would