Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-07
ROOT IS GUEST OF HONOR
OF BAR ASSOCIATION
Attaches Of British. French, Belgian
and Italian Embassies Also
In Attendance.
CLOSING EVENT ON PROGRAM
CASTOR de Leval, Who Speaks ON Adj
ministration of German Law in
Belgium, Tells Story OF Execution
OF Edith CaveIl.
IRv Associated Press. !

SARATOGA SPRINGS. y. Y. SeDtem-
Der 6.-Elhu Root was the guest of
honor at Il dinner given tonight by
the American Bar Association, the last
event on the convention program.
Others present included military or
naval attaches OF the British. French.
Belgian. Russian and Italian embas-
sizes. and CASTOR dc Lcval. who spoke
earlier in the day on the administra-
tion Of German law in Belgium.
In addition to the text OF his pre-
pared speech. NJ. de Levnl told the story
of the execution OF Edith Cavell. the
English martyr nurse. whom he rep
resented during her trial in Belgium
He was elected an honorary member
OF the American Bar Association.
Chief Justice Andrew ]. Bruce, of the
Supreme Court of North Dakota. speak
ing 1T the dinner tonight. aroused
the enthusiasm of the lawyers when
he said
Il speak from the viewpoint OF the
foreig born. l. and millions OF others
like me, came to this country alone.
without money and without friends
We sponged on all that America had.
her free lands, her free schools. and,
above all. her spirit or open-hearted
comradeship. She owed us nothing.
but she gave us all. We swore al
legiance TO her nag, her Constitution
and her laws. We would be recreants
ingrates, perjurers and ours II. in the
hour of her need, we counselled with
her enemies and were dsloyal to her
cause"
DE LEVAL TELLS STORY
OF GERMAN VIOLATION
The story OF three years OF German
violat ion of the covenants of The Hague
Convention. during the Teutonic occu-
pancy OF Belgium since the world war
began was told briefly by CASTOR de
Leval, of the bar of Brussels, to mem
bers OF the Bar Association.
Many articles of The Hague Conven-
ton, when tested by the facts in Bel
GUM with the invaders applying their
own interpretations, proved almost
ralueless." Mr.. de Leval said
The imposing of excessive fines, the
punishment by denth and imprison-
mcnt OF Belgian men and women and
children unwarrantably accused Of
treason and lesser crimes, and the de-
portation of his compatriots into
slavery were discussed by Mr.. de LevaI
from the legal Viewpoint.
notwithstanding "all the suncr;n-s
and tyranny TO which the Belgian popu-
laton has been subjected" the speaker
asserted. the people are as patriotic
now as when in the early period of the
war they stemmcd the German flood at
Licge
NO matter how much the Germans
have advertised their victories and how
powerful their military system has i'm
pressed the Belgian population" he said,
that population is just as hopeful as
during the first days that the cause of
civilization will triumph and that ty-
he
know that right is might. that right
is inc only might. and that the Lord
has said Blessed are they which hun
ger and thirst after righteousness. for
they shall be filed"
TRIED TO MAKE CAPITAL
OF FAMILY aUARRELS
Mr.. de Leval told how the Germans
tried to make capital of the uuarrels
winch, before the war, had taken place
between Flemish and WALTON elements
OF Belsium-the ones descendants of
herman tribes and the others descend
ants Of the Romano.
Since the very beginning thew ftb.
uermans) cajoled the Flemish ponu
iatlon.' he said. They tried to max q
~ pe!icNe That Germany was helninr
tneir aspirations To free themselves of
me troublesome Walloons. They told
them that. owing to the German efforts,
'"e'e "diioon ana French elements
were TO be set aside and the Flemish
population emerge richer, freer. with
us own language in the foreground.
Fut the people did not listen to
these siren songs. So, the Germans
auded compulsion TO persuasion. and
ny their new law made one country
or the Walloons and one country of
the Flemish. hoping. of course, that
after the war the Flemish population
al any rate would be a stepping stone
Tor Germany to further conquest
But this separation Is only on
paper. and is not and will never be
completely obtained. All the chiefs of
belgian departments have resign
rather than carry out such instruc,
lions and the Germans who had, when
they came into Belgium, promised that
all agents OF the Belgian government
continuing their duties would always
he free. If they so desired. to leave
their posts. are now sending TO German
prisons the chiefs of those departments
who have carried out what their con-
sciences told them was their duty"
MI de Leval paid tribute to America s
aid to his country, and especially to
ssz.s1sa..1.s;.s-: