The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-24
SAYS BRITAIN STANDS
AS She DID IN 1870
Would Have lntcrfercd to Pro-
tcct Belgian Freedom
AGAINST France.
A REPLY TO CHANCELLOR

" Docs amy one believe asks the Ger
me- Chancellor that England would
'.,.r ntsrtctrd t. protect Belgian free
u.ItgHuust France" The answer Is that
would inquest onahly have done so.
>.r Edward Grey. as recorded in the
V,.', Paper. usArI the French Govern
n'.i wheeler % wts prepared To- engage
90 f.. n,.f tf. neutrality of Belgium So
.uul a. nn'u...r Power violates it. The
Ircu.h Go,o,um,ut replied that It was
t.so',,d 80 respect o. Tho assurance. It
va. pdd,j u.H been given several times
md had ',rmcl the subject Of CONVEX
satou between President roiucare and
the KING OF the BeIgians.
The German Chancellor entirely g-
uores the fact that England took the
same limo about Belgian neutrality in
1870 that she has taken now In 1870
Prince Bismarck. when approached by
England on the subject admitted and re-
,pectcd the treaty obligations In rela-
ION to Belgium. Tho British Govern.
nont stands tn lHli rs +, stood In 1870
is Ilcrr won Eethmsnn Hollwcg who
u'fuscd 90 meet US iu 1914 as Prince
Bismarck met us In 1870.
Tie Imperial Chancellor finds It
TRANCE that Mr. Asquith. In his Guild
nall speech. did no. mention the neu-
tralitN OF tho Scandinavian countries. and
suggests that the reason for the omission
Nas some sinister design on Engiands
part u IS impossible tor any public
speaker 10 cover the whole ground in each
speech. The German Chancellor's refer
cncs TO Denmark and other scandinavian
uountric, can hardly he considered very
tactful WIKI regard to Denmark the
Danes are not likely to have forgotten
The parts played by Prussia and England
respectively iu lN65-64, when the kingdom
- Denmark was dismembered And the
integrity OF Norway and sweden was
guaranteed by England and France In the
trcaty of stockholm IN 1855.
The lmpcra. Chancellor refers to the
DEALINGS OF Great Britain with the Boer
republics and suggests that she has been
false therein 20 the cause OF freedom
WITHOUT going into controversies now
happily past We may recall what Gen
Bothi said In the south African Parlia.
m'nt few days ago when expressing
his conviction OF the righteousness Of
Britain'S caus" and explaining the firm
resolve Of the South African Union to aid
her IN every possible way:
Great Britain had given them a con-
st'ut.on under which they could create a
great nationality ana had ever since re-
Sardct them as free people and as a
NiTl'F = axe AItnpuEn there might be
many VIII" In the past had b, en- hostile
'"warl the British Tag, he could vouch
Tor u that they would ten times rather
be under the British than under the Ger.
man flag
"'rh, German Chancellor /. equally
unfortunate ~ his references to the
Colonial Empire So far from British
policy having been 'rectlcssly egotistic'
Il hts resulted in a great rally Of afrec-
Nou ana common interest by all the Brit.
oh domin.onS and dependencies. among
which there is not ono which is not aid
ne Britain by soldiers or other contrbu-
ton or both IN this war
with regard to the matter OF treaty
ohlir itIons generally the German Chan
c'llo~ excuses Ell" breach of Belgian
nouirditN hy military nccessity-at the
same Inle making "A virtue Of having
respected the neutrality OF Holland and
Switzerland and saying that 1t does not
enter hi head 10 touch the neutrality
or the scandinavian countries. \ virtue
which admittedly is only practised In tho
ahsenre OF termination from sclf.interest
and military advantage does not seem
greatly worth Wanting. To the Chan.
ce'log'- concluding statement that To the
German sword is entrusted tn" care Of
freedom for European peoples and States
The treatment OF belgium Is a sufficient
answer"
Tho Imperial Chancellor's statement 70
which SIR Edward Grey makes reply, was
ms follow:
The English Prime Minister. IN his
Gullu.bl .pr"ch reserved TO England tn.
role Of protector Of The smaller and
weaker S'ates and spoke about the neu,
tralty ~ Holland, Belgium and Swi,zcr,
land Fs be ug exposed to danger from
tho side of Germany II Is true that ",
have broken Bclsium's neutrality becaus,
bitter necessity compelled rs to do 20
IL. 1.
and integrity II sho would take account o
this state - necessity, II SO. she would
not have suffered any damage. as, fpr
example. LuNemburg
"lf Envliud. as protector of the weake,
stat. had wished 10 spare Belgium in
anl't suffering she should have advised
RelSium - accept our offer England
has not protected Belgium, so far as W,
know | wonder, therefore. whether 1t car
really ho s4id that ENGLAND is such "A dis
interested protector,
I'VE know perfectly well that IN,
French plan ~ campaign involved ,
march through E,l-ium to attack the mn
protected Uhucl.ud pocs any one bo
i|cNo England would hav" interfored t,
protect Belgian freedom against France
I'VE have firmly respected the non
trHltv of Holland and Sutherland W,
hrvr ilso avoided tho slightest vIolatlo,
of the frontier Of the Dutch province %
L,mhurg.
-, rs strange that Mr. Asqulth on,,
mentioned the neutrality OF Belgium. IIol
Ipd and switzerland but NOT thar -
ih" scandinavian c"uutrics lie might ha,
mentioned Switzerland with reference (,
France, but Holland and Belgium are sim,
1tod clos" 20 England or the opposite cid
- 'u" channel, and tina I. Wv England
50 concern for the nouti atty OF thes
countries
'Why .- Nj. Asquth silent .bou, IN