The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-09-18
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German chancellor, who entirely ig-
nc.os the fact that England took the
same line about Belgian neutrality In
1870 that sac has taken now.
in 1870 Prince Bismarck, when az
p1 cached by England on the subject,
admitted and respected the treaty Oh
legations in relation to Belgium.
Explains British Position.
Tho British government stands in
1914 as Il stood in 1870. II is Herr
ven MISUNDERSTANDING who refused
to meet IT'S In 1919. as Prince Bis.
marcK met US in 1910. The imperial
chancellor finds it strange that Mr..
Asluith in his guild hall speech did
not mention the neutrality of the
81 lndinavian countries and suggests
that the reason for the omission was
some sinister design on England's
part.
1T is impossible for any public
speaker TO cover the whole ground in
each speech. The German ChancCl-
lOrs reference to Denmark and other
Scandinavian countries can hardly
be considered very tactful with re-
gard 10 Denmark The Danes are not
likely to have forgotten the part play
ed by Prussia and England respective
j. in 1863 and 1864 when the kingdom
OF Denmark was dismsmbercd and the
integrity of Norway and Sweden was
guaranteed by England and France in
the treaty of Stockholm in 1855.
The imperial chancellor refers to
the dealings of Great Britain with the
Boer republic and suggests that she
has been false therein to the cause of
freedom. Without going into the con-
trOyersies, now happily past, we may
recall what General Botha said in the
South African parliament few days
ago when expressing his conviction
OF the rightCouGne IS of Great Britain 3
cause and explaining the firm resolve
OF the South African Union 10 aid her
in every possible way:
Quotes General Botha.
SAfCh q
constitution under which they could
create a nationality and had ever
since regarded them as q free people
and as a sister state, he said. al.
though there might he many who had
been hostile to the British flag in the
past he could vouch for ii that they
would ten times rather be under the
British than the German nag.'
The German chancellor is equally
unfortunate in his reference to the
colonial empire. So far from British
policy having been 'recslessly egotist,
ic,' II has resulted In a great rally of
affection and common interest by all
the British dominiohs and dependen.
cies, among which there is not one
which Is not aiding Great Britain by
soldiers or other contributions or both
i'm this war.
with regard to the matter OF tresty
obligations generally the German
chancellor excuses the breach of Bel
gums neutrality by military neces.
sity, at the same time making a vir.
tue of having respected the neutrality
of Holland ard Switzerland. and say
ing that il does not enter his head
to touch the neutrality OF the Scan
dinavians. A virtue which is admit
teddy only practiced in the absence OF
temptation from self-interest and mill
tary advantage does not seem greatly
worth Wanting.
ITO the chancellor's concluding
statement that to the German sword
is entrusted the care of freedom for
the European peoples and states the
treatment of Belgium is a sufficient
answer"