Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-09-25
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.

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 a final judg-
ment."
This was the keynote of President
Wilson's reply to the Belgian commits
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 | 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, a king for whom they en-
terrain so sincere a respect; and to
express my hopes that we may nave
many opportunities for earning and
deserving their regard.
Il thank you for the document you
nave 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 perusal and my most thoughtful
consideration.
Presently, l pray God YER soon,
this war will be over. The day
of accounting will then come when
| take it for granted the nations
Of Europe will assemble to determine
a settlement. Where wrongs have been
committed, their consequences and the
relative responsibility involved viii
be assessed. The nations of the world
have fortunately by agreement made
D plan for such a reckoning and set
Element. What such a plan cannot
compass, the opinion of mankind, the
final arbiter in all such matters, viii
supply. 1t would be unwise, it would
be premature, however fortunately sep
arated from the present struggle; i
would even be Inconsistent with tbs
neutral position of any nation which
like this has no part in the contest. tx
form or express a final Judgment.
Il need not assure you that thi.
conclusion, in which / instinctivel.
feel that you yourselves will concur
is spoken frankly because in warn
friendship. and as the best means 0
perfect understanding between US. al
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
you could lay any matter of vital con
sequence to yourselves, in the conf
dence that your course would be ur
derstood and met on the same spiri
in which it was conceived and Intend
ed"
The address delivered to Presiden
Wilson by Henri Carter de Wharf, tn
Belgian minister of justice. was 4
part as follows:
Let me say to you how much W
feel ourselves honored to have bee
called to express the sentiments of GU
king and of our whole nation to tn
illustrious statesman whom the Amel
lean people have called to the highes
dignity of the commonwealth. Sine
the very origin of its independents
Belgium has been declared neutral i
perpetuity. Had we consented to il
fringe upon neutrality for the benef
of one of the belligerents we woul
have betrayed our obligations towar
the others. And it was the sense {
our international obligations as we
as that of u dignity and honor thu
has driven us to resistance.
Peaceful inhabitants were mass
cred, de~fenseless women and childre
were outraged, open and undefende
towns were destroyed. historical an
religious monuments were reduced I
dust, and the famous library of th
University of Louvain was made
prey to flames.
In this frightful holocaust which
sweeping over all Europe the Unite
States has adopted a neutral attitud,
And for this reason, your countr.
standing apart from either one of til
belligerents, is in the best position
Judge, without bias or Partially, tn
conditions under which the war is b
ing waged.
Our faith in your friendship, i
YOUR fairness; our confidence in you
Justice. in your spirit of generosit
and sympathy, all these have dictate
our present mission"