New-York tribune., 1914-12-22
King Albert's Minister
Here Takes Issue with
DR.. B. Dernburg.
CALLS "DOCUMENTS"
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Charges Germany Deliberately
Planned Invasion as Effective
Move 10 Crush France.


yesterday TO The Tribune in reply 20
that published i'm The Tribune Sunday
by DR.. Bernhard Dernburg, who inter
preted two documents alleged 70 nave
been found by the German authorities
in Brussels among the archives OF the
Belgian General staff As indicating the
existence before the war of an ar
rangemeu. between the British MILL
tarv attachc there and the Belgian
Minister Of War regarding the British
Intervention iu Belgium.
The Belgian Minister says in his
statement that he does not know
whether the published documents are
authentic. but that If he had had them
he would have published them long
ago. "as they constitute the strongest
proof Of the innocence Of the Belgian
government
Mr.. Hayelith also said:
81 take this opportunity 20 expires
my appreciation Of your editorial ON
yesterdays Tribunel stating so clearly
and justly the deduct on TO be drawn
from these documents
His statement. on behalf Of the Bel
giau government, follows IN part:
Document 40. refers 20 a cOnvcr-
sation between Major General Ducarme
and the English military attache, Lieu
tcnagt Colonel Banardiston.
"'Ihe Euglish military attache went
20 call on the Belgian general and told
him OF the anxiety on the part Of the
English General STAFF in regard 20 the
general political situation and the pos
sibi.ity of war. I'm case Belgium should
be attacked the sending of about l00,-
900 troops was provided for.
Barnardiston a Seer.
"'He ltbe British military attache)
proceeded the following terms: The
landing of the British troops would
ts ke place on the French coast.
The entry of the English into Belgium
would take place only after the viola
tion Of our Belsian) neutrality by
Germany
"It almost seems as if Colonel Bar
uaraiston had foreseen the future. The
document continues as follows: My
visitor laid emphasis on the following
fact: "That IL was not binding on his
government" 10 was thus clearly
shown by the British military attache
that his communication was simply
conversation: u d.. moreover. perfect
lv well known that military attaches
have no power 10 make conventional
agreements.
"Thc document further continues:
I'm the course of another interview
Lieutenant Colonel Barnardiston and /
stud cG the combined operations TO
take place I'M the event of a German
offensive with Antwerp as its object
end under the hypothesis Of the Ger
man troops marching through our
Belgian country in order TO reach
the French Ardennes' an additional
proof that the object of the conversa-
tlon was solely TO prevent violation
of Belgian neutrality.
document 10. refers TO a conyer-
satin between the British military at
tacht and General Jungbluth. in which
the former said that the British troops
would effect landing even If we the
Rclgiansl did not ask for assistance.
This is an additional proof that no
agreement or convention had been
made.
Unable to See Proof
ITO this the Belgian general replied
that our Beicium's) consent was
necessary, and he added tina. we the
Relg.ausl were. moreover, perfectly
able 10 prevent the Germans from
passing through Belgium, showing his
anxiety to preserve the neutrality Of
Belgium.
"The Belgian Minister is unable to
see how 10 can be said that these docu-
monts constitute % proof of an agree
ment between England and Belgium
against Germany. unless one accepts
the idea that Germany had right 20
violate Eclgium's neutrality and that
an measures taken as q precautlon
against violation Of neutrality must
therefore have been taken against Ger
many.
The events that happened last Au-
gust and the sudden invasion OF Bel
cium by Germany show that the Brit
i,h government was fully justified IN
fearing the violation Of Belgium ter
ritory by Gcrmany. n seems incred-
tblc. after what has pas sed, that the
German government should denounce
-he British government for approach
ing the Belgian military officers and
taking precautions against the very
thing which eventually happened.
Germany Planned Invasion.
"The fact is that Liege was not TAX
on 90 prcvent the British from entering
Belgium. but because it was part Of
the plan Of the German staff 10 invade
Belgium al once and, marching across
her territory. to crush the army Of
France as soon as possible and then
.urn 20 attack the Russians on the east.
Did not Herr Won Jagow say 20 the
British Ambassador that the shortest
and easiest way was through Belgium
"The truth is that every step taken
bv Germany was clear indication OF
bcr intentions against Belgium. Her
.tr,togic railroads are concentrated or
,be Rclrian frontier. and her military
,.-itors won Bernhard. Won Schliefen-
bsrb and Won der Colt made no Sc
cret Of her plan 20 carry on her war by
means Of an invasion of Belgium's neu-
trail country. Events have shown how
long before The war preparations had
been made 10 carry this plan INTO ef-