The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-23
GERMANY SERIOUSLY
CONSIDERING EARLY
BELGIAN EVACUATION
aged, 1t Is Said. and Restore All
Territory Occupied.
WOULD MEAN RELEASE
OF LARGE FORCE OF TROOPS
The Pope Is Said To Have Made Alb
solute Justice To Belgium Condition
on Which He Is Willing To Use
Good Offices For Peace.

Washington, Jan. 22.-Informa-
ton has been received in diplo-
matte circles in Washington that
Germany is considering making
Belgium a proposal of separate
peace. The evacuation OF all Bel
gian territory would follow.
1t Is understood that the pro-
posal, which will be made to King
Albert by the military governor
Of Belgium, will include an OFFER
to nay for the property damage
caused by the German occupation.
Offlciais in close touch with the
German embassy expressed the opin-
ion today that the offer, If made,
probably would be accepted. Belgium
is not one of the signatories to the
document which Sir Edward Grey OBJ
tanned the signatures of the French
and Russian. and later. the Italian
government and which binds those
nations not to conclude separate
peace. The restoration of Belgium
would leave the allies no room for
protest. in the opinion of this author
ity, inasmuch as 1t has been this one
point on which the allies have been
most insistent as a condition of peace.
II can be stated authoritatively that
the question OF voluntarily withdraw
ing from all the occupied portions of
Belgium--on the one condition that
Belgium first consent to conclude a
separate peace with the Central en-
pires--is now being carefully con-
sidered in official circles In Berlin.
Result OF Move.
1t 10 pointed out that the conclusion
% such an arrangement would accrue
to the advantage OF Germany, for the
following reasons:
i. The conclusion of a separate peace
with Germany would automatically di-
vorce Belgium from the other allies.
3 The occupation by any of the al
lies of any part of Belgian territory
would become violation of neutrality
precisely comparable with the much
quoted violation of peutrality of which
Germany has been declared guilty.
3. For the allies to commit such a
breach of neutrality after having used
II as an excuse for making war on
Germany is too inconsistent to be pos
sible.
4. With immunity from attack from
that portion Of her frontier facing Bel
GUM. Germany would have for disposal
the vast army now actually
in Belgium and in the trenches on the
portion Of the battle line.
s. Inasmuch as Germany has never
at any time had any intention Of oc-
CuPytu6 nSt8Inn pcIhAnSully nGF
how. instead of at the
end OF the war. could not fail to be of
great advantage-not only because of
the accompanying release of troops.
but because of the world approval with
which such a step would be met.
8. So far as paying the cost of the
reha Utilization Of Belgium is concerned.
the amount involved Is very much less
than is popularity supposed. by far the
greatest financial loss sustained by
the Belgians having been due to the
British sea blockade which has abb
prevented all Belgian indus
trial activity.
Pope Made II Condition of Acting.
Announcement that the restoration
OF Belgium 10 being considered by
Germany followed the disclosure that
the Pope has recently made such ac-
tion a condition of his offering his
good offices for the re-esta blishment Of
peace. Curiously enough this state
ment was Forthcoming from the Brit
ish embassy which issued the follow
Ing memorandum. A DISTINGUISHED
Belgian Jesuit, Father Bcnusse. lately
received by the Holy Father. has given
the following account OF his audience
to a Dutch chaplain in the Belgian
army on his return.
The pope told me. and told me TO
repeat It along the trenches TO mon
and to officers and even to the King
that he considers Belgium has
the right to complete reparation from
and that he will never con-
sent to offer his good offices for the
Of peace unless Bel
GUM has all her tsrrttcries In Europe
and Africa restored her with pentitude.
her liberties and her international
right as they existed before. and this
without prejudice to her claim for an
adequate Indemnity to be fixed after