The Washington times., 1914-10-02
Allies First to Show Intent to
Disregard Treaty Of 1881.
Steps Taken Were National
Safeguard. .

was reorganized IL was done In
analogy with French models: French
officers instructed both the garri-
sons Of the fortresses and the field
army In such a way that there
might be as little difference as pos
sibie between French and Belgian
troops. The reorganization Of the
army itself was made with the view
of serving the needs of the war
which was even then contemplated.
This has been openly admitted by
King Albert in-an interview given
out since the beginning Of hostilities
During the fateful days OF last
July. when the question Of war and
peace hung in the balance, the Bel
gian government showed In many
ways that 1t expected to take part In
the struggle even before Germany
had given any indication that she
meant to march through Belgian ter
ritory.
French Cross Territory.
Several days before the declara-
tion Of a state Of war with France
the Belgian government permitted
French military aviators to cross its
territory into Germany. and about
the same time some fifty automo-
biles with French officers crossed
the frontier and. scattered among
the various garrisons, presumably to
take charge Of further instruction
that might be needed for: efficient
cooperation.
On July 81, two days before Ger
many requested Belgian permission
to march through that country
against France, the Belgian govern
ment suddenly prohibited the export
Of grain. thereby practically con-
fiscating large quantities belonging
to German merchants and then In
transit to that country.
Such are some of the evidences on
the Belgian side.
The French, on their part, had.
long before the outbreak Of the war.
massed large army on the Belgian
frontier. ready to cross over on the
first order Of mobilization. Ffnall.y,
to prove that Great Britain also was
party to the conspiracy, large
quantities Of ammunition fitted for
the English but not for French guns.
were found stored in Maubeuge when
the Germans took that fortress.
On Both Grounds.
1t is impossible that any candid
mind can fail to be convinced by
this mass of circumstantial evidence.
which could be much further in
creased IL it were necessary. This
being so, the conclusion must be,
first that the French. British and
BelgIans had, by overt acts, shown
their intention to disregard the
treaty of 1851: and, secondly. that
the state Of facts which had been
the reason for Prussia's enterinr
into the treaty had ceased to exist
by virtue of England herself CO..
operating in q breach Of the neu-
trality b. the same France. against
which the treaty was mainly direct
ed.
Consequently, Germany was or
both grounds entitled to disregard
the treaty. even according to the
strictest rules of Law prevailing in
an ordinary court Of justice.
It would. however, be most out
rageous pettifogging il one were TO
maintain that a government has no
right to break a treaty entered into
eighty years ago, even II by adher-
ing to such a contract the very ex-
istence Of its people Is brought into
eminent danger. II that were just
Shylock was most assuredly entitled
to his pound of flesh, and the greedy
landlord who throws a widow with
her starving children into the street
for payment of rent is an ec
emplar Of fair dealing 1t Is true.
assuming that Belgium honestly
meant to maintain its neutrality,
that Germany. by marching through
Belgian territory, inflicted an in
Jury upon an innocent party.
Will Pay Damages.
But even in private life. if can
save myself only by destroying my
. neighbor's property. the law allows
me to do so, and merely insists that
I shall pay damages Germany
professed entire willingness to pay
damages, but 1t Is really processing
a supermundane virtue to assert that
she should rather have incurred the
ri=E Of being destroyed.
Remember that the Germans found
themselves attacked by two great
military powers, with a third one.
Great Britain. ready to Join the as
sailants. Everybody admits the
great strategic advantage OF admin
istering the first blow, but France
was vulnerable in no place except
through Luxembourg and Belgium.
the neutral countries. In private
life. an individual may, II the
chooses. generously allow himself to
be killed rather than take advantage
of the weak points Of his adversary.
The governors OF countries, how
ever, are mere trustees for their ma
tions, and trustees who are generous
at the expense Of the beneffciarfes
commit a crime.
Verdict of History.
The fact is that apparently nobody
except a number Of chivalrous ou'
misinformed and somewhat unso-
pfisticated Americans pays much
Attention to the cry about this al
legged violation Of neutrality
n Great Britain sees nit to say
that she entered the war ior Ine
protection of the Beisians, IN tne
race Of her own statements. pno-
N,hed In the White Book, why one
can do nothing but shrus one
shoulders. ..
has ever been unable to give a
rsason for II that sounded like the
y.rv voice of justice. We look tc
r.cts not words. and I. for one, am
convinced that the verdict of history
will absolve Germany from every
particle OF guilt in the present crime
AGAINST mankind.