Evening star., 1914-10-08
to guarantee the integrity of the king

to guarantee the integrity of the king
dom and its possessions.
Second. Germany engages herself
on the aforesaid condition, to evacu-
ate Belgian territory as soon as peace
is concluded.
Third II Belgium observes a
friendly attitude. Germany is ready. in
cooperation with the authorities OF
| the government of Belgium, to buy for
cash everything that Is necessary for
her troops, and to pay indemnities fol
damage done in Belgium, but if Bel
glum behaves in hostile manner
| against the troops, and in particular
places difficulties in the way of theiI
| advance by opposition by the fortifica-
tions of the Meuse, or by the destruc-
| tion of roads. railways, tunnels or
other works. Germany will be obliged
to consider Belgium as an enemy.
In that case Germany will enter
into no agreement with the kingdom,
but will allow the further relationship
OF the two states to be left to the de-
c1sion of arms The German govern
ment feels that it is justified in hop
ing that this eventuality will not ma
terfalize, and that the Belgian govern
pirate measures to prevent it's mate
riallzation. In that case the friendly
relations which unite the two neigh
boring states will become closer and
more lasting
Denied by French Government.
Such is the German note. 1t will be
noticed that there is no question of
the alleged entry of French aviators
and officers into Belgium, as has been
stated in several papers here. The
document. in fact, knocks that fable
on the head. The only reason given
for the violation of Belgian territory
Is the alleged intention of the French
army to march upon Givet and Namur.
This assertion is supported by no
proof. and is denied by the French
government, which officially declared
to Belgium and England its intentions
OF not violating Belgian territory. On
the contrary, the premeditated inten-
tion of Germany to violate Belgian
neutrality is proved in the most ire
futable way-namely. by the af1rma-
himself, and by that of the German
chancellor.
ITO the request of Sir William Cos
chen. the English ambassador in Ber-
lin, to be allowed to know If Ger
many would pledge herself to respect
the neutrality of Belgium. the Ger
man secretary of state replied that
this neutrality had already been vio-
lated by Germany Herr Won Jagow
went again into the reasons why the
to take this step-namely, that they
had to advance into France by the
quickest and easiest way. so as to be
able to get we'll ahead with their.
decisive blow as early as possible. 1t
was a matter of life and death to
them, for, if they had gone by the more
southern route. they could not have
hoped, in view of the paucity of the
roads and the strength of the fort
resses, to have got through without
formidable opposition entailing great
loss of time. This loss of time would
mean time gained by the Russians for
the bringing up of their troops to the
was the great German asset. while that
of Russia was the inexhaustible sup
ply of troops (Of1cial report of the
British ambassador in Berlin to the
British government)
This conversation preceded by a,
few minutes that in which the German
chancellor. giddy at the sight of the
abyss into which Germany was fall
ing, uttered these celebrated words:
Just for a word neutrality. word
which in war times has been SO often
just for a scrap of paper,
Great Britain is going to make war
on a kindred nation. At what price
would that compact (neutrality) have
ment thought of that? Sir William
Goschen replied that fear of conse-
quences would hardly be regarded as
an excuse for breaking a solemn en-
ga cement. CONCEAL report or the BTU
ish ambassador to his government.)
"It is very clear from these docu-
ments that Germany had for long
time premeditated the violation of the
neutrality of Belgium. and that she
has even reconciled herself to the ter
rible danger of war with Great Brit
ain, rather than renounce the advan-
tages she thought she would gain by
not respecting the treaty. In the face
of these confessions, the allegation
that France wished to violate the neu-
trality of Belgium-an allegation sup
ported by no proof-falls to the ground.
Could Not Violate Neutrality.
ITO continue the analysis of the
German note, one reads: If Belgium
consents to assume, in the war which
is about to commence, the attitude of
friendly neutrality toward Germany.
the German government. on its side.