Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-08

washington, October THE Bel
GUM Legation has compiled the fol-
lowing statement of the Belgian case
in the present European war, to an
swer the many inquiries that have
been received on the subject:
by the treaty of April 10Th, 1899,
Prussia, France, England, Austria
and Russia declared themselves guar
antors of the treaty concluded on the
same day between the King of the Bel
gians and the King of the Netherlands.
This treaty provides:
belgium forms an Independent
state of perpetual neutrality
THAT is to say, Belgium was for
hidden, in case Of war to take the part
of any of the belligerents
Since then Belgium has fulfilled all
her neutrality obligations; she has
acted in spirit of meticulous impair
TALLY. She has left nothing undone
to maintain and make respected her
neutrality. Germany's obligation to
respect Belgian neutrality was even
more emphatically affirmed by one OF
Germany's greatest men, by the crea-
tor of the Empire Prince, then Count
Bismarck, wrote in a letter to Baron
Nothomb, Belgian Minister in Berlin,
on the 22d of July, 1870, as follows
I'm confirmation of my verbal as
surances, | have the honor to give IN
writing a declaration which, in view
of the treaties in force, Is quite super
fluous, that the confederation of the
North and its allies will respect the
neutrality of Belgium on the under
standing, of course, that 1t is respect
ed by the other belligerents.
(Signed) Won BISMARCK
ION August I'd, last, in the course of
the day, the German Minister in Brus-
sells, M. De Below Saleske gave an in
terview to the reporters of the news
paper lie Soir,' and declared to them
that Belgium had nothing to fear from
Germany. He went so far as to en-
ploy this expression: You will see,
perhaps, your neighbours house on
re, but your house Will remain in
tact The same day at seven o'clock
in the evening, he communicated the
following note TO the Belgian Govern
ment:
The German Government has re-
ceived unimpeachable news to the ef-
feet that the French forces have the
intention of marching on the Meuse
by Givet and Namur. This news leaves
no doubt as to the intention of France
to march upon Germany from Belgian
territory. The Imperial Government
of Germany cannot help fearing that
Belgium, in spite of the best of inten-
tions, will not be in position to re-
pulse without help an incursion by
the French of such great magnitude.
In this case 1t is sufficiently certain
that Germany is seriously threatened.
1t is the urgent business of Germany
to forestall this attack on the part OF
the enemy. The German Government
would be filled with lively regret If
Belgium were to regard as an act of
hostility against her the fact that her
precautionary measures oblige her to
violate on her side Belgian territory
in order to avoid the possibility of
misunderstanding, the German Gov
eminent made the following COM
ment:
list: Germany contemplates no act
of hostility towards Belgium. If Bel
GUM consents to assume in the war
which is about to commence that at
titude of friendly neutrality towards
Germany, the German Government. on
it's side, engages, when peace is re-
stored to guarantee the integrity of
the Kingdom and its possessions.
"'2d Germany engages herself, on
the aforesaid conditions, to evacuate