The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-21


to doubt further as regards the plans
Of the German General STAFF.
All his was known to the English
Military Attache as well as TO the Rel
giane. and. nxiou to know If We ar"
able to oppose any such German in
vasion. he approached the Chief of our
General Staf and asked him whether
we were ready 10 oppose such IN in
vasion. This question was interesting
for him from a legal and international
point of view becauss in case OF a Ger
man invasion his country as a guar
antor OF our neutrality was obliged 70
come to our help. II was under those
circumstances that the conversations
began, and this IL what Is stated IL
the report of Ducarne. which contains
the following:
THE first visit took place IN the
middle Of January. Mr.. Barnardiston
referred TO he anxleties of the General
STAFF OF his country with regard 70 the
general political situation. and because
Of the possibility that war may soon
break out. In case Belgium should he
attacked the sending Of about 100, 900
troops was provided for
The British Military Attache OK
planned what his COUNTRY was prepared
TO do and declared that all the British
troops could be dlsemhArkod in Ca.a.s
and Dunkirk. but said that the en-
trance OF the British troops would AXE
place in Belgium only after the viola
ton OF our neutrality by Germany. Il
Is further stated in the documents N1
that the conversation was entirely con
fdent,al: ,2) that It was not binding
on the Government. ~ that his Min
lister. the English General STAFF. he and
the Belgian Chief OF star we're the
only ones informed about the matter:
90 that ne didn't know whether the
opinion Of the sovereign had been con-
suited.
Thus IL IL proved ny these para
graphs thai there was only question
Of the ideas Of n military man rather
than Of an agreement. which was a
matter for diplomats. But y is nece,-
sary that I make further statements
IN order 70 answer directly Gen. Won
Bernhard when he empha~ PES tho
documents printed by the North Ger
man GG>ctfc. The latter knew very
well that the documents ala not prove
any convention or agreement and SO
was obliged 20 make a false trausl4-
NablAs AF VIC F.AN u.s. WI 'hf'
sation Is confidential" Il Translated the
phrase "our agreement ~tahkommen
Is confidential" and 20 give such "A
translation more vertsimiitude tho
North German Gazette put IN tho end
of the document tho words "thge-
schIosscn 1906" which mea con
cluded 1909" This hoes not appear
In the text and IS another false trans
1a,fo, - 49, So. ..r4.g.- L $500
were only 'fn >cpt"mbre. 1905. "wh'cr
means lend OF september. 1906" and
not concluded 1906"
In tho second place. instead ~
recognizing that the important phrase
the entry II English troops i1to
Belgium would take place only after
the violation OF u neutrality hv Ger
many was part Of the text. they did
not place It In the translation. bur only
added Il AZ tho end ~ ~" translation
"a an accessory thing. and did not
translate II!
But this II not all. In tho first
article of the North German Gr-cttc
on October ~ u ls sa!I the docu-
men;s IN Brussels were IN a portfolio
having the subscription Dn Fin p
Mappe welche die Auf-cr.rt tragic
'"IntcrNention tnclnlse- Bc~lgiune"l
which words do not mean agreement.
P But afterward when the B"lc.an Gov
rnmen denied tho existence Of any
agreements, and hoping 90 give proof
OF is statement. the NOrH German
Gazette In !ts article Of November -
as, published not only a photograph OF
those documents, but also q photo
graph OF the portfolio, and, what seems