Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-09-24
BELGIAhS MAKE
PROTEST To WILSON
King Albert's Commissioners Re-
ceiVed by the President.
u. S. CANNOT TAKE SIDES
Chief Executive Given Report of Al.
legged German Atrocities-Asse
1t Would Be Unwise for Any Ma
ton to Express Judgment.

tioH TO Express judgment.
Washington, Sept. 1S.-'It would be
unwise, it would be premature for a
single government, however fortu-
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 a final judg.
ment."
This was the keynote of President
Wilson's reply to the Belgian commits
sioners who came to the White House
on Wednesday to protest against the
wrongs which they declare their na-
ton has suffered from Germany in the
present war.
The presidents address follows:
Permit me to say with most sincere
pleasure l receive you as representa-
tlves OF the king of Belgians, a peo-
pie for whom the people of the United
states feel so strong a friendship and
admiration, a king for whom they en-
certain so sincere a respect; and to
W. AAs AlOpSS that VIC L4cS La
many opportunities for earning and
deserving their regard.
L thank you for the document you
have put in my hands containing the
result Of an investigation made by a
judicial committee appointed by the
Belgian government to look into the
matter Of which you have come to
speak. 1t shall have my most atten-
tive perusal and my most thoughtful
consideration.
Presently, 1 pray God very soon,
this war viii be over. The day
of accounting will then come when
| take it for granted the nations of
Europe will assemble to determine
settlement. Where wrongs have been
committed, their consequences and the
relative responsibility involved will
be assessed. The nations of the world
lave fortunately by agreement made
6. plan for such a reckoning and set
tlement. What such a plan cannot
compass, the opinion of mankind, the
final arbiter in all such matters, will
supply. 1t would be unwise, 1t would
be premature, however fortunately sep
arated from the present struggle; 1t
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.
Il need not assure you that this
conclusion, in which l instinctively
feel that you yourselves will concur,
is 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 cordially.
You are most welcome, and we are
greatly honored that you should have
chosen US as the friends before whom
you could lay any matter of vital con-
sequences to yourselves, in the conf
dence that your course would be I'M
derstood 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, was in
part as follows:
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
lean people have called to the highest
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 sense of
our international obligations as well
as that of our dignity and honor that
has driven US to esistance.
Peaceful inhabitants were massa-
cred, defenseless women and children
were outraged, open and undefended
towns were destroyed, historical and
religious monuments were reduced to
dust,
In this frightful holocaust which is
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 or Partially, the
conditions under which the war is be-
ing waged.
Our faith in your friendship, in
YOUR fairness; our confidence in your
Justice, in your spirit of generosity
and sympathy, all these have dictated
o71r Dresent mission"