Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-10-16
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"The English newspapers are taking
The greatest pains to demonstrate that
there is not the least analogy between
Germanys entry of Belgium and the
landing of English and French troops
at Salonika under General Hamilton.
They emphasize the point that the
Greek government and parliament fore
went the right to protest against the
entente S procedure with armed force;
that the allies never had in view any
action upon Greek territory, wnich
would be upwelcome to Greece. The
latest assertion is inaccurate, for the
Greek government protested vigorously
against the landing. If Greece re-
Trained from resisting by armed force
that does not mitigate England's and
frances blame.
Allies Offensive Worst.
Certainly, the violation of the neu.
trality of Belgium by Germany, and
! that of Greece BY England and France
cannot be compared, for in the first
instance the question resolves itself
about the threatening French advance
through Belgioum against the existence
of the German empire.
"Tne landing of entente troops at
Salonika was not founded on any sucl
distressing emergency. II was based
entirely upon the ground of political
and military opportunity.
Gas we were forced to enter Belgium
we repeated to the Belgian government
most liberal offers to spare that conn-
try from the horrors Of war. But, in
cited by England, and fettered TO Eng
land by secret military conventions, the
Belgian government plunged the coun
try into war.
cit has not been announced whether
the entente powers made similar guar
antees for the security OF Greece, whici
Germany made for Belgium. II ap
pears, however, that such was not tax
case. Instead, England and France
violated Greek neutrality in a mos
) brutal manner Therefore, this expRainI
: the articles in French and Englisi
newspapers which threatened the new
Greek government, formed after tb,
resignation of Premier Venizelos, witt
violence on land, If the wishes Of tn
entente were not pliantly accepted.
"Also, Bulgaria nns Just now learne'
now England pretends TO confer free
dom upon little states.
SIN the press of England there ap
pears, in the true British manner 0
thinking, the viewpoint that becaus
English interests required Belgian rt
sistance to German invasion, the whol
world was made indignant over Gel
many's act. But in the case Of Greco,
the world is silent, because English in
terests are served by silence. In tn
case Of Belgium, that country wa
: asked to offer the country g honor 10
> English opinion and English Interest,"
? Now Greece must sacrifice its homo
because il corresponds with England
interest TO do so.
English Viewpoint Changes
"Above al, IL is interesting 10 not
how the viewpoint Of England 's statei
T men, and English public opinion hav
changed over Belgian neutrality.
"I read recently a dispatch froT
Former Ambassador Hatfield, az L0r
don, dated February 4, 1887. The an
] bassador reported that an anonymou
letter wps printed in the Standard !
which IL was pointed out that althoug
| EnBlHnu ndu bhhoH ONtI iHo BuhiahAe
of Belgian neutrality, yet circumstan'
es had changed and that IL lay 10 th
interests Of English politicians TO gran
Germany, il necessary, the right
pass through Belgium, provided Go
n many did not touch Belgian integrit
after the war. TIE Standard, the
4 known as the conservative party orgai
shared this viewpoint in its leadin
4 editorial.
"The Pail Mall Gazette tho san
day, designated the assertion Of tt
! "Standard" as an invitation 70 Ge
n many In the ease Of military necesdt
\ not to regard Belgian neutrality; thi
) for England, above all, there existt
: no obligation 10 intercede for Belga
neutrality.
! GAS you sec by It's example, az no
I clearly demonstrated by England 3 pr
I cedure in Greece, the whole EngliI
storm Of indignation at GermRny's vi
\ lation of Belgian neutrality, is nothir
I more than what IL called in Englii
! cant, an expression for which the
\ is no possible German translation.
Y think fsehWiudeli comes tho nearest,