Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 191?-19??, 1914-09-24
THE UNITED STATES
WILL NOT PASS JUDGMENT
Notifies the World This Country Will
Not Take Any Part in the COntr0-
V~ersies; That These Questions
Would Have to Wait Until he End

washington, Sept. 16.-Presidentl
Wilson notified the world today that
the United States at this time carnotl
pass Judgment on or take any part
their spokesman and I am honored
that your king should have turned to
me in time Of distress as to one who
wishes on behalf of the people he
represents, to consider the claims of a /
nation which deems itself wronged.
II thank you for the document you
have put in my hands containing the
result of an Investigation made by a
Judicial committee appointed by the
Belgian government to look into the
matter of which you have come to
speak. 1t shall have my most atten-
tive perusal and my most thoughtful
consideration.
You will, [ am sure, not expect
me to say more. Presently, l pray
tlOnS of Europe will assemble to de-
God very soon, this war will be over.
The day of accounting will then come,
when, [ take it for granted, the ma
termine a settlement. Where wrongs
have been committed their ~consequen-
ces and the relative responsibility in
volved will be assessed.
THE nations of the world have for
tunately by agreement made a plan
for such a reckoning and settlement.
What such a plan cannot compass,
the opinion of mankind, the final ar
bitter in such matters, will supply. 1t
would be unwiSe, it would be prema-
ture for a single government, how
ever, fortunately separated from the
present struggle, and it woul be in
consistent with the neutral position
of any nation which, like this, has no
part in the contest, to form or ex-
press a final judgment.
81 need not assure you that this
conclusion, in which I instinctiveIy
feel that you will yourselves concur
is spoken frankly because in warm
, friendship and as the best means OF
perfect understanding between us, an
understanding based upon mutual re-
spect, admiration and cordially.
"You are most welcome and we are
:, greatly honored that you should have
chosen US as the friends before whom
1 you could lay any matter of vital con
: sequence to yourselves, in the conf
!; dence that your cause would be I'M
uSISDOOu dIu u1GG III Cuc SdlI0 0DllI
in which it was conceived and intend
ed"
The text of the statement of the
r Belgian high commission presented tc
President Wilson today by Mr.. Carton
de Wharf was as follows:
g Excellency: His majesty the King
of the Belgians has charged us with
a special mission to the President OF
the United States.
Ever since her independence was
first established Belgium has been de-
c1ared neutral in ~perpetuity. This
neutrality, guaranteed by the powers
has recently been violated by one OF
them, Had we consented to abandon
Il neutrality for the benefit of one
of the kelligerenIs we would have be-
trayeil our obligations toward the 9th
ers, and it was the sense of our in
: ternatianal obligations, as we'll as
that OF our dignity n honor, that
has driven us to resistance.
THE consequences suffered by the
g Belgian nation were not confined
purely to the harm occasioned by the
forced march Of an invading army
This army not only seized a great
portion Of our territory, but it com
y mitted Incredible acts Of violence the
nature Of which is contrary to the
rights of mankind.
Peaceful inhabitants were massa-
cred, ~defenseless women and children
were outraged, open and undefende6
9 towns were destroyed, historical and
religious monuments were luz
: to dust, and the famous library of the
University Of Louvain was given tC
o the flames.
Our government has appointed q
ial investigation, SO as to thoroughly
and impartially examine the facts and
to determine the responsibility there
of, and I will have the honor, excel
-oWo up oIsJu on uo!ss!uumoo Ig!oIpn!
in controversies between warning IIu
ropean nations over alleged violations
. of the rules of civilized warfare and
humanity. He said settlement OF
these questions would have to wait
q until the end of the war, which he
prayed might be soon.
The President announced the Amer
lean governments position first in an
address to the commission sent by the
n h1uS VI DCIS1uIh " P1oIOok oSoAiot
kalleged atrocities committed by the
Gewlan army. Later he sent a cable
gram along similar lines to the en-
peror of Germany, replying to the
emperor's protest that the allies were
using dumdum bullets.
The Belgian commission was receiv-
ed at the White House with formal
ceremony. The President, accompan-
led by his military aide and several
high government officials, greeted the
visitors in the east room n listened
> with grave attention to their address,
6 setting forth in detail charges that
German soldiery invading their land
had killed and tortured men. women
and children, destroyed art treasures
and sacked cities.
MI. Wilson read his prepared re-
lply:
Permit me to say with what sin
Y cere pleasure I receive o as repre-
r s~entatives of the king of Belgians, a
| people for whom the people of the