The chronicle=news., 1914-10-12

GUM, but II Belgium behaves In
hostile manner against the troops
and in particular places difficulties
In the way OF their advance by oppo
sition by the Qualifications of Tho
Meusr. or by the destruction of roads
railways. tunnels or other works
Germany will be obliged to consider
Belgium as an enemy.
In that case Germany will en-.
ter into no agreement with the King.
dom. but will allow the further rela.
tionship of the two States to be left
to the decision of arms. The Ger
mau government feels that it Is jus.
titled in hoping that this eventuality
will not materialiZe, and that the
Belgian government will know how
vent its naturalization. In that case
the friendly relations which unite
the two neighboring States will be-
come closer and more lasting
| such is the German note. 1t will
be noticed that there is no question
of the alleged entry of French await
ors and officers into Belgium. as has
been stated in several papers here.
The document in fact knocks that
fable on the head. The only reason
given for the violation of Belgian
territory is the alleged intention OF
the French Army to march upon
Givet and Namur. This assertion is
supported by no proof. and is de-
| MED by the French Government
which officially declared to Belgium.
and England its intentions of moi
violating Belgian territory. On til,
contrary, the premeditated inten-
lion of Germany to violate Belgian
| neutrality is proved in the most ir-
REPUTABLE way, namely. by the affirm
alton of the German Secretary o.
State, himself and by that of tho
German Chancellor.
To the request OF Sir William
Goschen, the English Ambassador In
Berlin. to be allowed to know II
would pledge herself to re.
,pect the neutrality of Belgium. tho
German Secretary OF State replied
hat this neutrality had already been
iiolated by Germany. Here Won ia.
COW went again into the reason
why the Imperial Government hat
seen Obliged to take this step. name
y. that they had to advance into
France by the quickest and easiest
way SO as to be able to get wei
,!ead with their operations and en-
1eavor to strike some decisive blow
rs early as possible. 1t was a mat;
.er of life and death TO them. for. II
/ hey had gone by the more Southern
cute. they could not have hoped, ir,
lew of the. paucity of the roads and
Yhe strength of the fortresses. tc
,ave got through without formidable
opposition entailing great loss OF
line. This loss OF time would NEAR
line gained by the Russians for tho
bringing uo OF their troops to thu
ierman frontier. Rapidity of action
vas the great German asset. Will
hat of Russia was the incxhaustibb
supply Of troops tOfficial report o
The British Ambassador in Berlin tt
he British Govcrnment.
at is very clear from these docu-
;nents that Germany had for a Ions
ime premeditated the violation OF
he neutrality OF Belgium and that
'he has even reconciled herself to tlit
errible danger of war with Grea'
Britain rather than renounce the ad
'antages she thought she would gall
" not respecting the treaty. In thu
iace of these confessions the allega
lions that France wished to violate
he neutrality of Belgium, an allesa
lion supported by no proof. falls tt
lie ground
7 ITO continue the analysis OF tn
German note, one reads: 'lf Belgium
consents to assume in the war whicf
is about to commence, the attitude o
friendly neutrality towards Germany
the German Government. on its side
engages. when peace is restored.
guarantee the integrity OF the k'ng'
dom and it's possessions
Gould Belgium. without heinz
false to her duties OF neutrality. take.
up the position which the German
Government calls friendly neutral
| ity'? That is to say. could she al
| low the German armies to pass with
out opposition through her territory!
Can the German Government itsel!
answer that question?
| at is enough to re-read the con-
versation given above between the
British Ambassador and the German
lSecretary of state to come to clear
conclusion in that respect. If the
violation of Belgium territory was &c
procure so signal an advantage tc
Germany that she had no fear oil