Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-09-17

commission which comes TO protest
against alleged German atrocities in
Belgium, was received in the East
room of the White House today by
President Wilson
Accompanied by Minister Havenith,
the commissioners assembled at the
setate department Just before 2 ?. M.
and were received by Secretary Bry-
an, who then took them over to the
White House.
Presidents Welcome
President Wilson said to the com
mission:
ssPermit me to say with what sin
Z cere pleasure / receive you as repre-
seutatiyes of the King of the Bel
gians, people for whom the people
of the United States feel SO strong a
friendship as admiration, a King for
whom they entertain SO strong a re-
spect and it is my hope that we may
have many opportunities of earning
and deserving their regard.
~ s'You are not mistaken in believ-
ing that. the people of this country
love justice seek the true paths of
progress and have a passionate regard
for the rights of humanity.
1T is matter Of profound pride to
me that am permitted for time to
represent such a people and to be their
spokesman and 1 am proud that your
King should have turned TO me in
time of distress" f-...-E
VI thank you for the document you
have put In my hands containing the
result of an investigation made by,
judicial committee appointed by the
Belgian government to look into the
matter of which you have come to
: speak. It shall have my most atten-
qtive perusa1 and my most thoughtful
consideration
You will, am sure, not expect me
TO say more. Presently. | pray God
very soon. this war will be over. The
day of accounting will then come.
s.aJ''The nations of the world have, for
tunateiy, by agreement made a plan
for such reckoning and settlement.
What such plan cannot compass the
opinion of mankind, the final arbiter
sin such matters, will supply. 1t would
be unwise, it would be premature, for
a single government, however, fortu-
nately separated from the present
struggle. 1t would be inconsistent with
the neutral position of any nation,
which like this has no part in the
contest, to form or express a final
judgment.
81 need not assure you that this
conclusion, in which I instinctively
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 whomi
you could lay any matter of vital con-
sequence to yourselves in the conf
dence that your cause would be I'M
derstood and met in the same spirit
in which ii was conceived and intend
ed.
Belgian Statement
The text of the statement of the
Belgian high commission, presented to
President Wilson at the White House
today by Mr.. Carton De Wharf was
as follows:
Excellency: His Majesty, the King
OF the Belgians has charged us with
special mission to the President of |
the United States.
Let me say to you how much we
feel ourselves honored to have been
called to express the sentiments of
our King and of our whole nation to |
the illustrions statesman whom the
American people have called to the
highest dignity of commonwealth.
Ever since her independence was |
first established Belgium has been de- |
clared neutral in perpetuity. This |
neutrality, guaranteed by the powers. |
has recently been violated by one of |
them. Had We consented to abandon |
our neutrality for the benefit of one |
OF the belligerents we would have be-
trayed our obligations towards the |
others, and it was the sense of our |
international obligations, as we'll as |
that Of our dignity and honor that
has driven us to resistance. The con-
sequences suffered by the Belgian ma
tion 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 1t committed incredi- |
BILE acts of violence the nature of |
which is contrary to the rights of |
mankind
Peaceful inhabitants were mass
acred defenceless women and child
rem were outraged, open and unde- |
tended towns were destroyed. histor- |
ical and religious monuments were |
reduced to dust and the famous IL |
brsry of the University of Louvain |
was given to the flames.
Our government has appointed a !
judicial commission to make an Off |
cial investigation, so as TO thoroughly |
and impartially examine the facts and |
determine the responsibility thereof |
and / will have the honor, Excellen-
cy, to hand over to you the proceed |
ings OF the inquiry.
In this frightful holocaust, which |
Is sweeping all over Europe the Uni |
ted States have adopted neutral at |
titude.-
And it is for this reason that your |
country, standing apart from either |
one Of the belligerents. is in the best |
position to judge without bias and |
partially the conditions under which |
the war is being waged