The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-12-31

effort which has been Imposed upon
their Inhabitants.
They endeayor to deceive ana In
t1midate public opinion IN neutral
countries, whose Inhabitants have
long since madeIup their minds whore
the initial resp lie and far
too enlightened to favor the design
Of Germany by abandoning the de-
Tense of human freedom.
sal@ Plum Now Crimes.
Finally these overtures attempt
to justify in advance IN the eyes OF
the world new series Of crimes
submarine warfare, deportation,
forced labor and forced enlistment Of
the Inhabitants against their own
countries and violations of neutral
ity.
Fully conscious OF the gravity OF
this moment. but equally conscious
OF tts requirements, the Allied gov
! ernments, closely united to one an
| other and in perfect sympathy with
their people, refuse to consider q pro
posal which Is empty and insincere
No Peace Possible Now.
Once again the Allies declare that
ltno peace Is possible so long as they
! have not secured PREPARATION for VIC
| lated rights and liberties, the recogni-
ton OF the principle OF nationaIities.
\ Of the free existence OF small states /;
so long as they have not brought
about settlement calculated to end
I once and for all forces which have
constituted a perpetual menace to the
nations and nm effectual. guarantee for
A the future security OF the world.
Tin conclusion the Allied powers
think It necessary to put forward the
! following considerations, which show
/ the special situation OF Belgium after
two and a half years Of war:
Belgian Situation.
'In virtue of international treat
\ les signed ny five great European
1 powers, or whom Germany was one,
Belgium enjoyed before the war a
special status, rem deringg her territory
\ fnViolable and placing her under the
| guarantees of the powers, outside all
4 European conflicts. She was. how
u ever, in spite Of these treaties. the
| firstto suffer the aggression of Ger
\ many For this reason the Belgian
Y government thinks 1t ecessary to de
n Fend side ~ side with the Entente
n powers for right and Justice.
Belgium has aIway3 scrupulously
fulfilled the duties which her neu-
4 traltty imposed upon her. She has
taken up arms to defend her inde-
\ pendence and her neutrality violated
\ by Germany and to sshow that she re
mains faithful to her international
! obligatfons,
Injustice Admitted.
/ "On the fourth of August, 1914,
4 in the Reichstag the German chan
cellor admitted that this aggression
1 constituted an Injustice contrary to
1.-THE laws or nations and pledged him
Eself In the name of Germany to repair
Tit. During two and n half years this
! injustice has been cruelty aggravated.
by the proceedings OF the occupying
forces, which have exhausted the re-
fsources of the country, ruined its in
ldustries, devastated It's town and vii
lagos and have been responsible for
nlassacres, executions
and imprisonments
"At this very moment. while Ger
many Is proclaiming peace and hui
manity to the world, she Is deporting
! Belgian citizens by thousands and re-
i duclng them to slavery.
Belgium before the war asked for
{nothing but to live in harmony with
\ Its neighbofs. Its king and It's gov
.Eernment have been one alnl-the re-
4 establishment Of peace and justice.
i But they only desire peace which
would assure to their country legiti-
mate reparatton guarantees and
Safeguards for the future.
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