Arizona republican., 1916-10-01
WILL COME BACK INTO
 PLACE IN SUN
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1

he entered the Belgian cabinet and | has since directed the foreign affairs | of the country, finding time also to | write a book which graphically de- | sccibes the week Of tragedy" at the | German capital when the British and l French ambassadors and himself | made their last attempt to prevent | the European conflict.
 The ministry of foreign affairs, | where Baron Beyens was seen, is in- stalled at Ste. Adresse, suburb of lIavre, in the Villa Hollandais, rus tie chalet occupied in ordinary times by seashore visitors. but now bearing on the outer gate a small placard, reading: Ministers des Affaires Es- tran9eres de Belgique." foreign of flee usually suggests marble halls and big diplomatic rooms with ambassa- dOrs sitting among oil paintings and mahogany furnishings. But the Villa Hollandais has nothing of this kind. Three small pine structures have been put up in the garden for various diplomatic and consular branches. Inside the villa there is the simplicity of summer cottage, but everything is scrupulously well done and effec- tive.
 Baron Beyens expressed at the out set the deep sense of appreciation felt hy Belgium toward the people of the United States, and, in particular, to- ward those who had directed the work of sending food supplies to Belgium.
 q am always glad to meet an American" said he, "and to express my gratitude to your people in gen. eral and to those who have literally saved our people from starvation. 1t is difficult for me to say how much fan tn M ngh of the committee directing the relief work of Belgium. He has proved himself a man of great resource and great ability in the gigantic task of providing for a whole nation which found itself suddenly threatened with starvation or ct least with cruel pri
 vatiOn. It was a task moreover, re- quring much diplomatic tact as we'll as business knowledge. for the relief
 committed was obliged to deal be-
 tween the German officials on the one hand and the allied officials on
 the other. But all this has been ac-
 complished with infinite skill: ob
 stacles which seemed at times insur
 mountable have been overcome. and
 practical results have been realized
 which gre of the highest importance
 to Belgium and the Belgian people.
 "The American minister at Brus-
 cels. MT. Brand Whitlock. has also won our unbounded admiration and respect in performing a work of l colossal magnitude under most trying l conditions. Remaining at Brussels while the government was constrained by circumstances to establish itself temporarily outside of Belgium. the American minister has been. with the courageous Spanish colleague. the 1 tulWark between our citizens remain ] ing in the invaded regions and the | German military and civil authorities temporarily in control Outside of the | horrors and atrocities of war which have been committed the ordinary administration of civil affairs has | been carried out with an iron hand 1 and with rigorous harshness. In al | this Minister Whitlock has stood be- | tween our people ard the rieors oi
 the German military administration l and such lenience as We have re-
 ceived has come largely through hi:
 energetic and discreet intervention.
 But" aded the minister, "thC 1 names of Americans who have showr this good will toward Belgium in yer, | practical ways is almost unlimited-DT l Watson of the American Church a
 Paris. and Mrs Watson MT. Bliss. tn
 American charge d'affaires at Paris
 and his wife, Mrs Wharton, the well
 known American writer, and many
 very many others To all of then
 Belgium is deeply thankful"
 Turning now to international affairs
 in which he had taken such an activ
 part at the debut of the war, Baroi
 Beyens went on:
 We had every reason to remain a
 peace with Germany Belgium had n
 hostility to Germany We had man
 Germans among us, as you have
 America. and many of our peopl
 spoke the German language. A spiri
 of good feeling and of confidence pre- vailed so far as we were concerned l have reason to know this as I wa
 Minister at Berlin up to the openin of the war, and had opportunity observe the mutual relations existing "Germany has sought to spread tn legend that Belgium had a secre treaty with England relating to Ant werp. But that is false. There is n such treaty and never was such treaty. Certainly if such a documen existed l would know of it, and l af firm to you, on my honor. that 1t doe not exist. No, the legend of the secre treaty is pure invention set up justify, in the eyes of the world u crime against Belgium
 Tn refusing the demand of Ge many to cross Belgium, we were sin ! ply performing q duty. We we 1 bound to act toward our Germa Il neighhor to the east just as we woul have done toward our F'rent ! neighbor to the west, for our dut q and all our interests tended to mair tain the same attitude toward tf powerful neighbors on our two froi tiers. Suppose France had been tl one to ask the right to cross Belgiul and tO attack Germany. We wou 4 have been bound to refuse it. Ar had such demand ever been mad Al and ever been granted, what wou N Germany have said? It would ha denounced us as violators of a treat \ and as false and dishonorable Doub less the world would have agre, a with this view, mad Belgium take a such a course.
 n But happily, this contingency d not arise. France never sought enter Belgium. Yet here again Ge many has sought to set up lege H that French designs on Belgium l' E to the German invasion of the cou1 & antly disproven. No, Germany q course in entering Belginra was pure II strategic military operation. car H fully planned long in advance, al A without the slightest Justification H being 2 defensive move again French designs Against that, or T path open to them-the path of homo | nf it.rr int, 1,t1t