New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-25
'SCRAP OF PAPER STIR
AMAZES CHANCELLOR
Dr. Won Bethmann-Fiolweg Especially Surprised That
u. S. Misunderstood His Nleaning-Calls Belgian
Treaty Merely Excuse for British.

which it may find itself at a time when
the occasion for action on the guaran-
tee arrives, and he referred to such
English statesmen as Aberdeen and
Palmerston as supporters Of his views.
England drew the sword" con
tinued the Chancellor, only because
it believed it's own interests demanded
il. Just for Belgian neutrality 1t would
never have entered the war. That IS
what ! meant when | told Sir William
Goschcn in that last interview, when
we sat down to talk the matter over
privately man TO man. that among the
reasons which had impelled England
90 20 into the war the Belgian neutral
ity treaty had for her only the value
Of scrap Of paper.
MAY Have Been Excited.
"l may have been a bit excited and
aroused" said the Chancellor. who
would not have been at seeing the
hopes and the work of the whole period
OF my Chauccllorship going for naught
recalled TO the ambassador my ef-
forts for wears to bring about an
understanding between England and
Germany, an understanding which,
reminded him, would have made gen
/ cral European war impossible, and
which absolutely would have guar
anteed the peace OF Europe.
"Such an understanding, the Chan
ccllor intcrjected psrentheticslly
would have formed the basis on VIII icf
we could have approached the United
States as third partner; but England
had not taken up this plan, and through
its entry into the war had destroyed
forever the hope of its fultlment.
"ln comparison with such momentous
consequences was the treaty not a
4 scrap of paper? England ought really
to cease harping on this theme of Bel
gian neutrality. Documents on the
Anglo Belgian military agreement
which we have found in the mean time
show plainly enough how England re-
garded this neutrality. As you know
we found in the archives of the Bel
gian Foreign Office documents which
showed that England in 1911 was de
tcrmined 70 throw troops into Bel
GUM without the assent OF the Bel
gian government II war had then
broken out. In other words. to do ex-
/ actly the same thing for which, witt
al the pathos Of virtuous indignation
/ il now reproaches Germany.
Rested on Public Opinion.
"In some later dispatch Sir Edward
T GREY. / believe. informed Belgium tina
he did not believe England would TAXI
such a step because he did not thinl
English public opinion would justify
that action. And still people in III,
United states wonder that | character
lied a. scrap Of paper the treat!
whose observance, according TO respon
sible British Statesmen, should be de
pendent on the pleasure Of British pub
Tic opinion treaty which England
itself had long since undermined with
its military agreements with Belgium,
Remember, too. that Sir Edward
Grey expressly refused 20 assure Us
Of England neutrality even in tn,
event that Germany respected Belgian
neutrality. ! can understand, there
fore, the English displeasure At my
Characterization OF the treaty of 1873!
as a scrap of paper. for this scrap o.
paper was for England extremely valu
able. furnishing an excuse before IN,
world for embarking IN the war.
Il hope, however. that in the United
states you Will see clearly enough tina
England in this matter. TOO. acted sole
~ on the principle Of right or wrong
my interest
The Chancellor during the converse
ton had twice risen 10 take q few i'm
patient steps about the room. He spok,
calmly enough. but with All under-cur
rent Of deep feeling. particularly wher
he mentioned lis efforts for an under
standing with England and world peace
which he had hoped would come from
them, based OF an agreement between
Great Britain. Germany and the Unite,
States. and with a note OF thorough
conviction in the justice Of the German
position toward Belgium.