The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-09-17


spoken frankly because in warm
friendship and as the best means If
| perfect understanding between us. an
understanding based upon mutual re-
spect. admiration and cordially.
on are most welcome and we arc
! greatly honored that You should have
4 chosen rs as the friends before whom
/ you could lay any matter Of vital con-
| sequences to yourselves. in the conf
dence that YOUR cause would be IN
derstood and met in the same spirit in
which It was conceived and Intended"
TEXT OF STATEMENT.
The text of the statement Of the
Belgian high commission. presented to
President Wilson at the White House
today by Mr.. Carton dc Wharf. was as
follows:
"EXcelleHCy.
Ills majesty. the king oegthe Bel
giaus. has charged us with q special
mission to the president Of the United
States.
~Ilet me say to YOU how much We
| feel ourselves honored to have been
called 10 express the sentiments OF our
king and Of our whole nation to the
ilIustrious statesman whom the Amer
lean people have called t. the highest
dignity Of the commonwealth.
~ far as I am concerned. I have
already been able, during previous
trip, to fully appreciate the noble vir-
tues Of the American nation and 2m
happy to take this opportunity to rN-
press the admiration with which they
inspired me.
Ever since her independence was
firstestab Iished, Belgium has bc"u ac-
Clared neutral in pcrpctuity. This neu-
trality, guaranteed by the powers, haa
recently been violated by ono Of them.
Had we consented to abandon our ncU-
traIitY for the benefit Of enc of the
belligerents We would have betrayed
our obligations towards the others and
it was the sense of our international
obligations as that of our dignity and
honor that has driven US to resistance.
THE consequences suffered by the
Belgian nation were not confined pure
IL to the harm occasioned by the forced
march Of an invading army. This army
not only seized a great portion Of our
territory but it committed incredible
acts of violence the nature Of which
is contrary to the rights Of mankind.
Peaceful inhabitants were massa-
cred, defenceless women and children
were outraged, open and undefendcd
religious monuments were reduced TO
dust and the famous Library of She
University of Louvain was given to
the flames.
Our government has appointed
judicial commission to make an official
Investigation. SO as to thoroughly and
impartiaIly examine the facts and to
determine the responsibility thereof,
and I will have the honor. eXcellenCy,
to hand over TO you the proceedings
OF the inquiry.
In this frightfuI holocaust which IS
sweeping all over Europe, the United
States has adopted a neutral attitude.
And it is for this reason that your
country. standing apart from either
one Of the beIIigerents. is in the best
position to judge without bias and
Partially the conditions under which
the war is being waged.
1T was at the request. even at the
initiative of the United States that all
civilized nations have formulated and
adopted at The Hague. a law regu-
Iating the rights and usages OF war.
1--WE refuse to believe that war has
abolished the family of civilized pow
ers or the regulations to which they
have freely consented.
displayed its respect for justice, its
search for progress and an instructive
attachment for the laws of humanity.
Therefore it has won a moral influence
that is recognized by the entire world.
1t is for this reason that Belgium.
bound as it is to you by ties of COM
merce and increa sing Friendship turns
to the American people at this time
to let it know the real truth of the
present situation. Resolved to continue
its uutlinching defense OF its sover-
eighty and independence, it deems it
a duty to bring 10 the attention of the
civilized world the innumerable grave
brea ches Of right of mankind Of which
she has been a victim.
AT the very moment we were leav
ing Belgium the king recalled to us
his trip to the United states and the
vivid and strong impression your pow
erful and virile civilization left upon
his mind.
Our faith in Your fairness. our con-
tidenCe in YOUR justice, in your spirit
of generosity and sympathy, all these
dictated our present mission
Mr.. Carton de Wharf handed to Pres
ident Wilson the results of the official
inquiry instituted by the Belgian gov
eminent, showing in detail the de-
struCtion 4@ Belgium,