The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-31
GERMAN CHARGES IGNORED BY GREY
 SAYS CHANCELLOR
Official Reply to Statements Issued by British Foreign Officer Given by Von
 Bethmann-Hollweg

Berlin. August so.-lBy Wireless to Sayville.)-The North German Gazette publishes an official reply to the state ment issued by Sir Edward Grey, the British secretary of foreign affairs, with relation to the speech of Chancellor von Bethmann- Hollweg at the opening of the last session of the Reichstag. The Over seas News agency today summarizes the reply in the Gazette as follows: At the beginning the article aludes to the fact that Sir Edward Grey diplo- contained in reports from Belgian min- isters at various European capitals prior to the war, recently published in Ger many on Der Pabst and the Concil' but goes exhaustively into the subjects of threats against Belgian neutrality. The chancellor never said that Belgium sold her neutrality to England. but asserted that it had been proved by documents that Belgium had fostered British mili- tary plans. thus herself violating her neutrality.
 iho 6i Gtic POiltS Out lndI tne Q1s- cussion of all cventualities by British and Belgian military officers must have been reported to the British cabinet Docu- ments found in Brussels sheds light, it is asserted, showing conclusively that a British military attache coolly told his Belgian colleague that Great Britain would land troops in Belgium without Belgium's consent, and that Belgium never had protested against this. having decided not to resist British violation of Belgian neutrality. but that upon the mere supposition that German inva sion was possible, the Belgian government prepared complete plans for cooperation with British forces. Such a country, it is declared, is not neutral country.
 Received Reports
 '.Other documents found" the reply continues. show that the British gen. eral staff received. reviewed and dis cussed important reports of attaches stationed at Brussels.
 The chancellor" it is added, "did not endeavor to briug to light facts that would justify violation of Belgian neu- trality in August. 1914. and stated the reason in his Reichstag speech. declaring that German troops invaded Belgium after the latter had already broken her own neutrality faith.''
 Besides" it is added, "the excitement over the morals of a violation of a 75- year-old treaty made for entirely diff ferent purposes was ridiculous for a country which unconcernedly disregarded a promise solemnly given 25 years ago to all Europe, and which continuously supported French violations of the ob- ligations accepted in 1911 regarding Mo- rocco"
 The Overseas agency here takes up the assertion by pr. Von Bethmann-Hol1- veg, in his recent Reichstag speech, that Sir Edward Grey had said to the Ger man ambassador. as he was taking leave of him after tho outbreak of the war. that 1t might be possible that England could be of more assistance to Germany at the wars close by entering the con flict than if she had remained neutral. It notes the Gazettes assertion that Sir Edward Grey had denied having mado such remarks as the German chencellor in his Reichstag address had interpreted as meaning that Sir Edward would be able to aid Germany against Russia. Ths text of the memorandum in which Prince Lichnowsky. the German ambassador at London, recorded the part in question of his interview with the British secretary of foreign affairs Is reproduced from the newspaper by the Overseas agency as follows:
 Grey Sent for Him "Sir Edward Grey sent word that he would like to speak to me at his home before my departure and bid me fare ~ell; also that nc had confidential communication to make that possibly would be valuable ia the future. I an swered that in view of the turn af- fniro fok would ho m frI for me to meet him again, but yielded to his request as I did not wish to miss an opportunity that might pos sibly be important to the future of both nations.
 "sir Edward Grey was visibly moved as he greeted me. He said the deci- sion he had been obliged to take was the gravest of his entire life and that the deciding consideration was that participation in the war would injure England little more than a passive course; moreover. that England as participating power would be in a bet ter position to throw her influence into the balance than by remaining neu- tral because she would be able at any time to threaten to withdraw from the conflict.
 The violation of recognized inter- national treaties guaranteed by Eng land, he said, made it impossible for her to stand aside. Also, he regard ed 1t as inexpedient to consider the suggestion of the imperial chancellor establishing conditions for Great Brit aims neutrality From the British standpoint such transaction i'm pressed him as improper and he could not enter into negotiations with a rower that could make such proposi- tions As in former interviews, he laid chief stress upon the Belgian. without adding as he did in his speech in the House of Commons, that England could not look on while Germany endeav- ored to reduce not only France, but also Belgium and Holland to a state of dependency"
 The foreign secretary's confidential communication to Prince Lichnowsky h thus summarized:
 "The confidential communication was to the effect that should events not take the turn anticipated by the Ger man party. or should Great Britain wish for other reasons to bring the war to a speedy end he always would be prepared, if he remained in office to undertake the task of mediation and be of assistance to Gefmany. He had not the slightest intention to crush Germany and wished only to restore peace upon acceptable conditions and put an end to unspeakable misery for the civilized world.
 Prince Lichnowsky remarked that the role of arbiter would be easier for Sir Edward Grey had Great Brit ain maintained neutrality. He an swered that the participation of Eng land would shorten the duration of the war"
 The Overseas agency. concluding its