Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-09-23
PROTEST TO wilson.
COMMISSION APPOINTED BY KING
OF BELGIUM RECEIVED
~ PRESIDENT.
U. $. CANNOT TAKE SIDES

" --Ft- - . o. SO ~ S.. -- w. FL =
Nations Chief Executive Given Report
Of Alleged German Atroeities-As.
ssrts It Would 30 UnMise for Any
Nation to Express Final Judgment.
Washington, Sept. 1s.-'It would. be
unwise, it would be premature for .
single government. however fortu7
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 q final judy
ment.",&
This was the keynote of President
Wilson's reply to the Belgian commits
stoners 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 ] receive you as representa-
tives OF the king OF, Belgians, q PEG
pleEfor whom the people Of the United
States feel SO strong q friendship and
admiration. q kingefor whom they en-.
terrain SO %sincere%2a 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 :
judicia! committee appointed by the
Belgian government to look into the
matter OF which you have come to
speak. It shall have my most atten-
tive perusal and my most thoughtful.
consideration.
Presently, ! pray God very 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
q 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.
q plan for such . reckoning and set
Element. What such . plan cannot
compass, the opinion or mankind, the
final arbiter in all such matters. wilt
supply. 1t would be unwise, It would
be premature, however fortunately sep
arated from the present struggle; Il
would even be Inconsistent with the
neutral position Of any nation which,
like this has no part in the contest, to
form or express . final judgment.
7 need not assure you that this
conclusion, in which I instinctively
feel that you yourselves will concur
ID spoken frankly because in warm
friendship and as the best means of
perfect understanding between us, an
understanding based upon mutual re-
spect, admiration and eordiality.
You are most welcome. and we are
greatly honored that you should have
chosen us as the friends before whom
you couldla any matter OF vital CON
sequence to yourselves, In the conf
}dence that your course would be un-
sderstood and met On the same spirit
in which it was conceived and intend
ed"
The address delivered to President
Wilson by Henri Carter de Wharf, the
Belgian minister Of justice. wal IN
part Is follows: sS ES
LET me say to&you how much We
feel ourselves honored to have been
called to express the sentiments Of our
king and OF u whole nation toSthet
sillustrious statesman whom the Amer
-~~nYo ~ = :oel1nA - che
dignity of the commonwealth. Since
the very origin Of Its independence
Belgium has been declared neutral In
%perpetuity. Had We consented to In.
fringe upon neutrality for the benefit
OF one OF the belligerents We would
have betrayed our obligations toward
the others. And It was the ems Of
our international obligations il we'll
as that of our dignity and honor that
has driven us to resistance. d
Peaceful Inhabitants were massa-
cred, d~efenseless women and children
were outraged, open and undefendeds
towns were destroyed. historical and
religious monuments were reduced to
dust, and the famous library Of the
University Of Louvain was made Q
prey to flames.
I'm this frightful holocaust which Il
sweeping over all Europe the United
States has adopted . neutral attitude.
"And for this reason, your country,
standing apart from either one OF the.
belligerents, is in the best position to
Judge, without bias OF Partially, the
conditions under which the war ID. be-
ing waged.
"Our faith in your friendship, in
your fairness: u confidence in your
justice, in your spirit Of generosity
and Sympathy, all these have dictated
our present mission" sE
Wilson Replies to pumdum Protest. :
washington, Sept. 1S.-President
Wilson replied to Emperor Williams
protest that the allies using dunn
dunn bullets. The presidents reply
follows closely the statement he made
To- the Belgian commissioners protest.
viii Amend the Home Rule Bill.
London, Sept. 17.-Premier Asquith
said the government would introduce
ut the next session Of parliament be.
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