The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-02
The special Guarantee of Bclgian Ncu.
traIity

TO THE EDITOR or THE SUN-Sir: In
your paper OF yesterday a statement is
made in Il letter OF Mr.. George H. GUIDE
brud concerning the Hague convention
and the motives OF Great Britain in de-
clar.ug war on Germany over the breach
Of Belgian neutrality which ! and every
other person informed of the true facts OF
the case must brand as entirely erroneous
and as a would be subtle attempt to bolster
up the cause of Germany, which. inde ed
needs bulsterinG up, but can never be jus
tifad. II is puerlle 10 attempt such tustti-
cation 10y asserting that England was well
Informed regarding the articles OF the
Hague conventions, that II ~ inconceiv-
able that Sir Edward Grey was not then
what must We think of tho attitude OF
England trying 10 make the people OF the
United States believe that Germany vio-
lated Brigium's neutrality and that she
entered the war for the purpose ~ pro-
tect!ng Beglums neutrality; which. NY
the way, she had not done and W. are
forced 10 believe she must have known
she could not do"
1t IL preposterous 20 advance such
plea Belglum's neutrality was guaran-
teed by the high contracting Powers OF
which Great Britain, Germany France
and Russia were leaders, on no less than
two occasions before the Hague conven-
ton of 1870, was ever thought Of was
guaranteed by two treaties one IN 1891
and the other in 1857. In his speech IN
the House OF Commons before the ulti-
matum was served ON Germany Sir Ed
ward Grey reviewed the history OF Bel
gian neutrality and never referred 20 the
Hague convention at all. That neutral
ity was supposed TO be grounded on a
higher plane than even Tho Hague II
is therefore absurd 10 base an argument
against the participation OF Great Brit
ain In the war on the grounds taken by
Mr. Gudehrod
Equally absurd ~ the statement that
Britain has not protected Belgian neutral
ity. Before YOU can have "A warrant out
for a man for robbery you must have
proof that he is guilty of robbery. To
punish him he must be rounded up and
in the case of Belgium this is in process
# being done, and II 1t IL not done at least
a heavy toll from Germany will be ex-
acted. "\venge, Lord, thy slaughtered
saints
In this case in a time OF peace Ger
many had cuuSpred against the liberties
and freedom OF the Iielgians. her armies
were ready to march across their frontier
II would he impossible for Britain to pre-
vent their iurolds on her territory with
out having previously violated her neu-
trality. Therefore the participation OF
Britain In the war Is for purposes OF pun
ishment Our whole civil society would
ulsS"'F" ~ "o "'u h"t PuhlSn OF attempt
to punish without fear of consequences TO
ourselves a lawbreakcr because We did not
or could not have time or forewarning
enough to prevent his breach Of the law
Germany Is the laNbreaker among ma
lions.
Some other letter writers refer to China
and Japan's alleged breach Of her neu-
tra!ity. In that case 4, was 90 seize
German owned railroad running through
Chinese territory that Japan interviewed
a railroad that was being operated by
Germans for military purposes and they
we're thus tho prior violators Of Chinese