The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-09-22
PROTEST TO WILSON
COMMISSION APPOINTED BY KING
OF BELGIUM RECEIVED
BY PRESIDENT.
U. S. CANNOT TAKE SIDES
Nations Chief Executive Given Report
of Alleged German Atrocities-As-
serts 1t Would Be Unwise for Any
Nation to Express Final Judgment.

of Alleged German Atrocities-As- |
serts 1t Would Be Unwise for Any
Nation to Express Final Judgment.
Washington, Sept. 18.-"It would be
unwise, it would be premature for a
single government, however fortu-
nately separated from the present
trouble; it would be inconsistent with
the neutral position of any nation.
! which like this has no part in the con-
test, to form or express final judg-
ment."
| This was the keynote of President
Wilson's reply to the Belgian commits
sioners who came to the White House
on Wednesday to protest against the
wrongs which they declare their ma
ton has suffered from Germany in the
| present war.
The presidents address follows:
Permit me to say with most sincere
! pleasure l receive you as representa-
tives of the king of Belgians, a peo-
pie for whom the people of the United
States feel so strong a friendship and
admiration, king for whom they en-
terrain so sincere a respect; and to
express my hopes that we may have
many opportunities for earning and
deserving their regard.
Il 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 perusa1 and my most thoughtful
, consideration.
Presently, 1 pray God very soon,
this war will be over. The day
of accounting will then come when
l take it for granted the nations
Of Europe will assemble to determine
settlement. Where wrongs have been
: committed, their consequences and the
relative responsibility involved will
be assessed. The nations Of the world
have fortunately by agreement made
: a plan for such a reckoning and set
. Element. What such plan cannot
: compass, the opinion of mankind, the
j final arbiter in all such matters, will
supply. 1t would be unwise, it would
I be premature, however fortunately sep
L arated from the present struggle; II
would even be inconsistent with the
/ neutral position of any nation whicr
# like this has no part in the contest, to
e form or express final judgment.
i Il need not assure you that this
! conclusion, in which 1 instinctively
feel that you yourselves will concur
i is spoken frankly because in warn
o friendship and as the best means o
o perfect understanding between US, al
5 understanding based upon mutual re
spect, admiration and cordially
You are most welcome, and we ar,
greatly honored that you should hav'
chosen US as the friends before whom
s you could lay any matter of vital con
sequence to yourselves, in the conf
dence that your course would be VI
derstood and met on the same spiri
IT in which it was conceived and intend
s ed
d The address delivered to Presiden
IS Wilson by Henri Carter de Wharf, tn
Ls Belgian minister of justice, was i
part as follows:
oft Let me say to you how much W
70 feel ourselves honored to have bee
e, called to express the sentiments of on
s, king and of our whole nation to tn
lie illustrious statesman whom the Anne
Il. lean people have called to the highes
n dignity of the commonwealth. Sine
Id the very origin of its independents
I'd Belgium has been declared neutral
lie perpetuity Had we consented to il
lie fringe upon neutrality for the benet
IL of one of the belligerents We woul
IS have betrayed our obligations towaI
Or the others And it was the sense {
D. our international obligations as we
as that of our dignity and honor TIL;
n has driven us to resistance.
of Peaceful inhabitants were mass
ut cred, defenseless women and chfldre
d. were outraged, open and undefende
g. towns were destroyed. historical al
n religious monuments were reduced
dust. and the famous library of Il
re University of Louvain was made
Ell prey to flames.
to IN this frightful holocaust which
.e, sweeping over all Europe the Unit
es States has adopted neutral attitud
And for this reason, your countr
standing apart from either one of Il
belligerents, is in the best position
an Judge. without bias or Partially, t
,st conditions under which the war is
M. ing waged
ky Our faith in your friendship,
RS your fairness; our commence In 20
le- Justice, in your spirit of generosi
au- and sympathy. all these have dictat
ur our present mission.