The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-09-16
TEXT OF BEL CLAN PLEA TO WILL SON

Washington, Sept 16-The text of the statement of the Belgian high commission spresented by President Wilson at the White House today by Mir. Carton4 De Wiart. was as follows: .ExceHency: His Majesty the King a special mission to the President of the TJn7ted States. 2 9Esf1r
 Let me say to you how much we feel ourselves honored to have been called to express the sentiments of our King and of our whole nation to the illustrious statesman whom the Amer ican people have called to the highest dignity of the commonwealth.
 AS far as am concerned, have already Been able during a previous trip. to fully appreciate the noble vir- tues of the American nation and I am happy to take this opportunity to express the admiration with which they inspired me.
 Ever since her independence was first established Belgium has been de- neutrality, guaranteed by the pow CTS, has recently been violated by one of them. Had we consented to aban- don our neutrality for the benefit of one of the helligerents we would have betrayed our obligations towards the others and 1t was the sense of our in ternatioHa1 bifgations as well as that of our dignity and honor that has driven us to resistance
 The consequences suffered by the purely to the harm occasioned by the forced march of an invading army. This arTfly not only seized great DOT tion of our territory but it committed incredible acts Of violence of the nas ture of which is contrary to the rights Of mankind.
 Peaceful inhaIbitants were mas sacred, defense1ess women and chill drens were outraged. open and u11de' fendeds towns were destroyed, hsstoris5 cal and religious monuments were re- dueed to dust and the famous library of the University of Louvain was giv- en to the flames.
 Our government has appointed a Judicial connlnittee, to make an off, eiaI investigation so as to thorou gllly and ippartially examine the facts and determine the responsibility there of and I will have the honor, Excel, ceedings Of the inuiury.
 In this frightful holocaust, which Is sweeping al over Europe, the Unit ed States have adopted neutral at titude.
 And it is for this reason that your eountry, standing apart from either one of the belIigerents is in the best position to jduge without bias and partiaIity the conditions under which the war is being waged.
  initiative, of the United States that all civilized nations have formulated and adopted at The Hague a law regu1at- ing the rights and usages Of war
 We refuse to believe that war has abolished the family Of civilized pow CTS or the regulations to which they have freely concentrated.
 he American people has always displayed it's respect for justice its search for pTogrsss and an instinctive attachment for the laws of Humanity y. 1herefore, 1t has won a moral irflur e1ace that is recognized by the entire world It is for this reason that Bel giuTn, bound as it is with you by ties of commerce and incfea sing frfent1~ ship. turns to the American people at this time to let it know the real truth Of the present situation
 ReeelTests e eprltinues it's unf1inch ing defense of it's ,soverei gnfty and in pendence, it deems it a duty to bring to the attention of the civilized world the annun1er able grave breaches of right of Enankinds of which she has been victim,