The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-25

General Field Headduarters of tho Ger man Armies, In France, Via Berlin and London. January 24.-4:2o p. m.)-'I am surprised to learn that my phrase, a scrap of paper which I used in my last conversation with the British ambassador in reference to the Belgian neutrality treaty should have caused such an un- favorable impression in the United States. The expression was used in quite an- other connection and the meaning implied
 in Sir Edward Goschen's report and the turn given it in the biased comment of our enemies undoubtedly are responsible for this impression"
 pr. Theobold Won Bethmann-Hollweg, German imperial chancellor, made this statement to a representative of the Asso- ciated Press in villa at the German field headquarters in northern France, serving as the office and dwelling of the chancellor the foreign minister, Goot- lieb Won Jagow, and the diplomatic suite accompanying Emperor William afield. The chancellor explained that he had spoken of the treaty, not as scrap of paper for Germany. but as an instru-
 
 Belgium's forfeiture of neutrality; and that Great Britain had quite other req sons for entering the war, compared with which the neutrality treaty appeared to have only the value of a scrap of paper. My conversation with Sir. William Goschen,' said the chancellor, occurred August 4. I had just declared in the Reichstag that only dire necessity and only the struggle for existence compelled Germany to march through Belgium, but that Germany was ready to make com pensation for the wrong committed.
 Had Abandoned Neutrality When I spoke already had certain indications, but no absolute proof that Belgium long before had abandoned its neutrality in it's relations with England Nevertheless, I took Germany's respon- | abilities toward the neutral states SC seriously that I spoke frankly of the | wrong committed by Germany.
 'sWhat was the British attitude on the same question? The day before my con- versation with Ambassador Goschen, Sil | Edward Grey had delivered his wei known speech in Parliament in which while he had not stated expressly thai 1 England would take part in the war | he had left the matter in little doubt. One needs only to read this speeci 1, through carefully to learn the reason fol England's intervention. Amid all hi beautiful phrases about England' s ,honol and obligations we find it over and ovel again expressed that England's interest 1 it's own interest--call for participation 1T ] the war, for it is not in England's s in l terests that a victorious and. therefore stronger Germany should emerge iron | the war.
 :! This old principle of English policy l to take as the sole criterion of its ac l lions it's private interests regardless O. | right reason or consideration of hu ! manity-is expressed in that speech O. l Gladstone's in 1870 on Belgian neutrality from which Sir Edward quoted. | MT. Gladstone then declared he wal unable to subscribe to the doctrine tha' | the simple fact of the existence of { guarantee is binding on every party there | to, irrespective altogether of the par
 ticular position in which it may find it. | self at time when the occasion .fol
 action on the guarantee arrives; and h'
 referred to such English statesmen al l Aberdeen and Palmerston as supporter:
 of his views.
 Interest Demanded War
 England drew the sword only becaus, | 1t believed it's own interests demanded
 1t. Just for Belgian neutrality 1t would | never have entered the war That fl l what meant when I told Sir William Goschen that among the reasons whicl had impelled England to go into th'
 war the Belgian neutrality treaty haS