The chronicle=news., 1914-10-12
CLEARLY SHOWS GERMANY -.
VIOLATED NEUTRALITY Of BELGIUM

Washington. Oct. 1.-THE Bel
gian Legation has complied the fol-
lowing statement Of the Belgian ease
in the present European war, to an
swer the many inquiries that have
been received on the subject:
by the treaty OF. April 10. 1899,
Prussia, France, England. Austria
and Russia declared themselves guar
antors OF the treaty concluded on the
same day between the King of the
Belgians and the King of the Neither
lands. 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
impartiality. She has left NOTHING
undone to maintain and make res
pected her neutrality. Germany's
obligation to respect Belgian neutral
ity was even more emDhaticalH at
firmed by one of Germany's greatest
men. by the creator of the Empire
Prince. then Count Bismark, wrote
in a letter to Baron Nothomb, Bel
gian Minister in Berlin. on the 22d
day OF July. 1870, as follows:
In confirmation of my verbal as
surances, l have the honor to give
view Of the treaties in force. is quite
superfluous, that the confederation
of the North and its allies will re-
spect the neutrality of Belgium on
the understanding, of course. that it
is respected by the other belliSerent.
"lSigned) Won Bismark."
"On August End, last, in the course
Brussels. NJ. De Below Saelske. gave
an interview to the reporters Of the
newspaper. lie Soir', and declared to
them that Belgium had nothing to
fear from Germany. He went so far
as to employ this expression: You
will remain intact The same day,
at Z o'clock in the evening. he com
the following note to the
Belgian Government:
THE German Government has re.
cited unimpeaclable news to tho
effect that the French forces have
the intention of marching on the
Mouse by Givet and Namur. This
news leaves no doubt as to the inten.
tion of France to march upon Ger.
many from Belgian territory.
1.-THE Imperial Government O.
~ r.1Is
Belgium. In spite of the best of in.
will not be in a position to
repulse without help an incursion by
the French of such great magnitude
In this case It is sufficiently certain
that Germany is seriously threatened
1t is the urgent business of Germany
to forestall this attack on the part o.
the enemy The German Govern,
ment would be filled with lively re-
greet II Belgium were to regard az an
act of hostility against her the fact
that her precautionary measures
obligel her to violate on her side Bel
gian territory
In order to avoid the possibility
of misunderstanding, the German
maze tne IO1iOwlnE cOW-
ment:
list: Germany contemp plates mol
act of hostility towards Belgium. If
Belgium consents to assume in the.
war which is about to commence the
attitude OF friendly neutrality toward
Germany, the Germany Government
on its side. engages, when peace y
restored. to guarantee the integrity
of the Kingdom and its possessions,
"'2nd: Germany engages herself,
on the aforesaid conditions, to evacn-
ate Belgian territory as soon as peace
is concluded.
I'D: If Belgium observes a
friendly attitude Germany is ready
in cooperation with the authorities
of the Government of Belgium, to
buy for cash everything that is ne
cessary for her troops, and to pay In
for damage done in Bel