The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-30
The Annexation Of Belgium.

In n letter printed elsewhere Mr.. A.
MAURICE Low calls attention to an ON
ciai declaration Of Gcrmany's intentions
regarding Belgium. This was volun-
On yfiv communicated to the British GOV
eminent on August 4. II was after
mo actual violation N the Belgian
frontier by Germany and before the
consequent helligerent action OF the
british Government. The formal prom
.se or pledge by Germany - now OF
considerable interest. II appears In the
British White Paper and is here repro
duced in full.
40. 49,
"G>rmnn Foreign Secretary 10 Prtncc
Lieu NY.--Communicotcd bp Ger
man Embassy. Argust 4.
"tTeleeraphic)
"B.rtrN. August I. 1914.
~Prease dlspel any m.strust that may
suhsiet on the part OF the British Gov
eminent with regard 10 our intentions. b.
repeating most positively formal assur-
ence that. even in case Of armed conflict
,rtfb Beloiur, Germany tciu. under no pre-
fence ,rhatercr, amer Belgian territory.
GU. by fact that we solemnly pledged
our word to Holland strictly 20 respect
her neutrality. It is obvious that we
.o:!a nc. practically annex Belgian terri
sory without masking at tho same time
territorial acquisitions at the expense %
Holland.
"Please impress upon Sir Y. GREY that
German army could not bo exposed to
French attack across Belgium, which was
planned according 20 absolutely un'm-
peachable information. Germany had con-
seauently TO disregard Belgian neutrality.
u being for her question o. lie or death
TO prevent French Gdrdncc."
This was three days after France had
declared her own intentions regarding
Belgium. in the communication mum
bered - in the Gray Book. made by the
French Minister at Brussels To the Bel
gian Minister of Foreign Affairs:
IT am authorized 20 declare that in the
event OF an international conflict The Gov
eminent Of the Republic, as they have
always proclaimed. will respect the neu-
trality OF Belgium II this neutrality
should not be respected by another Power,
the French Government, in selfd"fence.
might be compelled to modify its att!-
tude"
These documents are brought to-
gether because they combine 10 confirm
the conclusion reached 10y Il careful eX'
animation of the So-caled secret papers
found at Brussels and published by
Dr. DERNRURG. England and probably
France arranged with Belgium years ago
for cooperative military action only in
case Germany should first violate Be-
gums guaranteed neutrality. France
declared her purpose. ut the beginning
of last August, to keep off Belgian soil
unless Germany should first enter.
We know what did happen. Ger
many entered Belgium declaring to Eng.
land that il was Il matter of life or
death with her to anticipate French
advance across the neutral territory
that she possessed absolutely unim-
peachable Information of Frances pur-
pose TO cross Belgium in order to at.
tack the Rhcnish country.
This absolutely unimpeachahe" evi-
dence, eXculpatOry Of Germany's fatal
act, has never been produced by Or.
Won BETHMANN-IIoLLwEG, who has re
ferred confidently to its existence: ny
Herr Won JAGow, who affirmed It's ex.
istence in the words quoted from his
communication to the British Govern.
ment prior to Euglands appea rance as
belligerent. or by DR.. BERNHARD DERN-
BURG. the spokesman in America of the
Imperial Chancellor and the Secretary
Of State
When the moral demand became I'm.
perative for self just iticatlon by Ger.
many, DR.. DERNBURG produced naught
hut these secret papers" which could
not have come into Herr Won JAGow :
possession until several weeks after his
positive assertion of August 4, mas
much ms they are said to have been
found at Brussels subsequently to the
German occupation Of that city.
Moreover. even If these "secrct' doe
unents had been in the possession OF
Herr ,ON JAGow on August 4, they
would not have constituted the "ab
soiutciy unimpeachablc" information
which he hen declared himself to pos
sc>S; for instead of proving that Franc,
was party To plot to overthrow
Bclgiums neutrality by crossing hcl
territory To attack Germany they prove
sdngnHrly enough, that the plans Of tn,
Allies for entering Belgium with Bel
gums CunulNaucr or cooperation wef'
expressly made contingent upon IN,
prior oGtrln"" of Germany across tn
eastern frontier.