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

that compact neutrality have been
kept? Has the British Government
thought of thatT Sir William Goschen
replied, that fear of consequences
would hardly be regarded as an excuse
for breaking solemn engagement.
(Official report of the British Ambas-
sador in Berlin to his Government,)
ut Is very clear from these docu-
ments that Germany had for long
time premeditated the violation Of the
neutrality of Belgium and that she has
even reconciled herself to the terrible
danger of war with Great Britain,
rather than renounce the advantages
she thought she would gain by not re-
specting the treaty. In the face of
these confessions the allegations that
France wished to violate the neutral
ity of Belgium, an allegation support
ed by no proof, falls to the ground.
ITO continue the analysis of the Ger
man Note, one reads: IF Belgium con-
sents to assume in the war which Is
about to commence, the attitude of
friendly neutrality towards Germany,
the German Government, on it's side.
engages, when peace is restored, to
guarantee the integrity of the King
dom and its possessions
Gould Belgium, without being false
to her duties of neutrality, take up the
position which the German Govern
ment calls friendly neutrality? That
is to say could she allow the German
armies to pass without opposition
through her territory? Can the German
Government itself answer that ques-
ton?
1T is enough to re-read the CONVEX
sation given above between the British
Ambassador and the German Secretary
of State to come to a clear conclusion
in that respect. If the violation of
Belgian territory was to procure so
signal an advantage to Germany that
she had no fear of bringing on war
with England to attain it; then for
Belgium to lend herself to the passage
of German troops must have meant the
certainty of fatal consequences for
France. Thus for Belgium to have
yielded to the German ultimatum
would ipso facto have conferred con-
siderable advantage to Germany 30 the
detriment of the other belligerent. and
would have constituted a breach of
neutrality.
Germany concludes her note by
threats. She engages, on the condition
already defined. to evacuate Belgian
territory at the conclusion of peace.
/ If Belgium behaves in a hostile man
ner, Chat is to say, If she does her
duty Germany will be obliged to con-
slider Belgium as an enemy. She
would then leave the ultimate ar
rangements of the relations of the two
states to the decision Of arms--in other
words If Belgium does not agree to
violate the treaty, Germany will treat
her as an enemy and adds a yelled
threat Of annexing a part or the whole
of her territory.
1.-The moral fibre of nations Is not
always measured by their size or pow
er, Belgium is small and weak, but her
answer bears witness to her love of
justice and to her respect of the right.
/ She would rather die with honor than
| live dishonored.
THAT was made clear by the answer
of her Government. The answer was as
| follows:
1.-THE German Note has been a pain
full surprise to the Belgian Govern
ment. The intentions which the note
attributes to France are in con-
ira diction to the formal declara-
lions which were made to us on
1.-THE LIST of August in the name of the
Republic. Besides, if--contrary to
our expectations-F'rance is about to
violate the neutrality of Belgium, Bel
GUM would be prepared to fulfill its
neutrality obligations, and her army
would offer to the invader the most
vigorous resistance. The treaties of
/ 1889 confirmed by the treaties of 1870,
commit to the guarantee of the powers
and notably to the government
of his majesty, the King of Prussia,
the independence and neutrality of the
Kingdom of Belgium.
1.-The Chancellor of the German En-
pire said in sitting of the Reichstag
on the 4th of August: We are in a
state of legitimate defence. Necessi-
ty knows no law. Our troops have ec-
cupied Luxembourg and have perhaps
already penetrated into Belgium. This
/ is against the law of nations. France
| 1t is true, has declared to Brussels
that she is determined to respect the
neutrality of Belgium as long as her
adversary respects it, but we know
that France was ready to invade Belgi-
UNI. France can afford to wait; we
cannot. A French attack on our flank
in the region of the lower Rhine might
have been fatal. 1t is for that reason
that we have been compelled to ignore
the just protests of the Governments of
Luxembourg and Belgium. The injus-
tice which we thus commit we will re-
pair. as soon as our military object has
been attained
ut has been shown above how much
value can be attached to the assertion OF
the alleged intention of France to in
wade Belgium. That intention and the
realization of that intention belong ex-
clusively to Germany and they must be
! left in her possession. This is especially
the case in view of the fact that the
military dispositions undertaken by
France, absolutely refute the allega~
tons of the German Chancellor. So
true is this that when the violation OF
Belgian territory became an accom-
plished fact, and when the King OF
Belgium appealed under the terms OF
the treaty of 1889 for support, in main
tanning the neutrality of Belgium
which these Powers had guaranteed,