Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-28

Belgian neutrality aftpr the Belgian
government, instigated by Sir Edw1rA
Grey, had refused 10 accept the well
known proposition Ct Germany under
which Belgium would have been fully
compensated for any damages caused
by the German troops If allowed to
pass through Belgium has since been
demonstrated by the disclosures re-
Gently officially published in Berlin
from the Belgian archives at Brussels,
showing clearly that as long ago as
1906 Belgium entered into a secret
agreement with England providing
for the leading of a British army Of
100000 men On the continent for the
purpose of operating jointly with tn,
Belgian army in case Of a Franco
German war. This army was to be
landed at Dunkifk. Calais and bou-
logne and to be forwarded from there
by Belgian railways to the field of nc.
ton, which discloses the fact that
France was party to this agreement.
as further evidenced by the admis.
sion that the three powers had clos:alS
worked out the plans of cooperation
Of the allied armies. It is further
mentioned that no assistance could ct
that time be expected from Holland.
II is learned from the same source
that in 1911 the Belgian envoy in Der.
lin expressed great dissatisfaction in
regard to this arrangement and indi-
Gated that some pressure had be m
resOrted to by England in accomplish
ing her designing purposes. 1t hardly
dc n@l 4
such acts has broken her claim to
neutrality, as agreements of that kim
could be made only with the approval
OF all the great powers. 1t Is a queer
coincidence that at the time wheir
these disclosures were made in Berlin
the military co-editOr Of the Times,
probably having no knowledge OF, the
same. arrived at the conclusion that
1t was very unfortunate for Belgium
that she had been unable to enter into
any military convention with England
before the commencement Of the war
without violating her neutrality.
Belgium made a great mistake in
accepting the advice of France and
England. whose assistance has been
OF no avail. Liege was practically in
the possession of the German troops
On August 9, few remaining forts
surrendering within a week thereaf-
ter. and the great fortress of Antwerp
has been conquered after a siege OF
only twelve days.
AS has already been indicated, the
allied powers are claiming that they
are fighting against autocracy and
militarism and in the interest of hui
manity and lasting peace. The Rus
sion car has even come forward With
manifestoes to his Polish subjects and
to his dear Jews, promising them
more freedom and better treatment,
but unfortunately the Poles, Firms and
Russian Jews know by experience
what value they can place on such
promises. AS very ably set forth by
Professor Eucken and others, the Ger
man nation has similar aims. She is
fighting against Russia as representa-
tive of the worst autocracy and brute
force and for the equal rights of ma.
tons against England as a state which
believes in only one dominant world
power, and that one Great Britain.
AS to German militarism, how about
the militarism of Russia, France, Italy,
Japan and many other countries? sss
i Every German sincerely hopes that
a lasting peace may soon end this ter.
rible war. Since the arms OF the al
lied powers have not met with the ex-
pected success the fact deserves COM
ment that the press of the allies and
many papers in the United States are
most active in impressing upon the
public opinion, especially upon the
people Of neutral countries, how inn
portant 1t is for the general benefit OF
mankind that the allies should be viz.
torious in order to secure a just ana
lasting peace, at the same time rep
resenting Germany with her peace rec
ord of over 40 years as a most terri
Bile, bloodthirsty nation and the great
est menace to civilization. The pur-
pose of this press campaign is, OF
course, obvious. The allies, if unable
to defeat Germany, anxiously hope
that the neutral countries may come
to their assistance in accom- plishing
their long desired object-namely, the
subsection and removal of a very DOW
erfhl rival. Considering the strong
feeling for justice and fairness which
has long been paramount with the
people of the United States, there is
no room for doubt that the expecta.
tons Of the allies in this connection
will not be realized"