Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-10-09
by Associated Press.)

legation has complied the followin,
statement Of the Releian clsc in the pre-
sent European war. 10 answer the manl
inquiries that have been received on the
subject:
BY the treaty Of April ~. l>;9. Prus
STA, France, England. Austria aud Rus
STA declared themselves guarant0rS "
the treaty concluded on the same DAY
between the King Of the Bclgians anf
the kine OF the Netherlands. This
treaty provides:
Belgium forms an independent state
of perpetual neutrality"
That is to say. Belgian was forbid
len. IN ease Of war. 10 take the part o.
any If The belligercntS.
"Sincc then Belgium has fulfilled All
her neutrality obligations: she has acted
in a spirit If mcticulouS impariiality.
She has left nothing undonc Ia maintain
and make respected her neutrality. Ger.
many's obligation Ia respect Belgian
neutrality. was even more cmphatically
affirmed by one of Gcrmanv'S greatest
men. by the creator Of the empire. Prince
then Count Bismarck. wrote in u letter
to Baron Nothomb. Belgian minister III
Berlin. IN the 22nd day Of July. 1870. a.
follows:
In confirmation of my verbal aSSur
ances. ! have the honor 10 give in writ
ing a declaration which. in view ~ the
treaties in force, is quite sUpcrfl1ouS
that the Confederation az the North and
its allies will respect the neutrality Of
Belgium ON the understanding. of course.
that il i respected bv the other bcllia
crcnt. lSigncdl on bismarck. Y
q Angus! ID. last. ia the course of
the day. the German Minister in BruS
sells. NJ. De Below SalcSkc. gave an IN
tervicw 10 the reporters nf The ncwSpn
per lie Soir,' aud declared "a them that
Belgium had nothing ID fear from Ger
many. He went 80 far a. "a employ this
eNl r%cSSion: You will crr. perhaps. your
neiphbors house ON fire. bat vour hurS-
VIII rcm1in intact. The same day. -
seven O'Clock ia che evening. 10 cen
.ninicated the following note to TIE l;cl
gan government:
The German government has r.
ccivcd unimpcachablc news L. the effect
that the French forces have the intcn !
tion nf marching on the llcISc IN Giyct
and Namur. This news leaves ~ 10 IL
as 10 the intention If France a. marcl
upon Germany from Belgian territory.
"'Thc Imperial government 30 Ger
many cannot help fearing that Belgium
in spite of the best of intentions. will
not he in a position Ia rrpulSc without
l.l.. -. -. l. II 90
great magnitude. In this case il is sui
ficicntly certain that Germany j. Scri
ou>lN threatened. II il the urgent bus
mess of Germany e. forcStall this attack
on the part Of The enemy. Tho German
government would he filled with lively
regret if Belgium were 10 regard a. ~
act of hostility against her the fact thai
her precautionary measures obligc her
To violate on her side Belgian territory.
In order 10 avoid the possibility oi
misunderstanding. the German govern
ment made the following !
list. Germany contcmplatcs no act
of hostility towards Belgium. III Bel
eiinn consents to assume in the war
which i about Ia commence The attitude
II friendly neutrality towards Germany.
the German government. on its side. en-
cages. when peace j. restored. 10 guar
antcc the integrity Of the Kingdom and
lis possessions.
3" md. Gcrmanr engages herself on
the aforesaid conditions. to cva,uate
Belgian territory a. soon aS peace i
concluded.
"'rd. III Belgium observes a friendly
attituuc. Germany i ready ia coopcra
ti"n with the authorities Of the govern
mrnt Of Belgium. e. buy for cash every
thing that i necessary for her troops.
and "a pay indcmRitic> for damage dome
ia Eclgium: hut il Belgium behaves in
a hostile manner against the troops. and
in particular places difficulties in the
way of their advance bv opposition by
the Qualifications of the Meu>c. or hv the
destruction of roads. railways. tunnels
or other works. Germany will lac obliged
10 consider Belgium A. IN enemy.
In that ease Germany will enter into
IAN agreement with The Kingdom. hnt viii
nallow the further relationship NJ the
1.-Two states a. to- left IA the ~ .ision "a
Yarns. The German government feels
that il i justified ia hoping that hi.
~cycntualitN Will not matrrializc. and
.ithat the Belgian government will know
uhow Ia take appropriate measures 10 pre-
VI vent it, NATURALIZATION. Ia that ease
u the Friendly relations which unite the
two ~pcighhoring states will hccumc clos
CT and more lasting
Such j. the German note. II will H.