The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-12
Berlin, in Note to Neutrals,
hiscredits Avowed Aim
- of Allies.
tcohtinued From Page one.)

- - ~
recQgnazed BY its own delegates rs a
valid law of-nations and in the further
coprsa of the war violated in the most
severe fashion. also the Paris decla .
ration;' 30 that, by her arbitrary meas
ures Tor warfare q condition of law
lessness has been created.
Starvation inhurnans.
/. The war Of starvation against Ger
many and the, pressure exercised in
Engiands interest against neutrais
are not less scandalously conflicting
with the rules of the laws of nations
as with. the commands Of humanity.
Likewise contrary to the laws Of ma :
tions.t and incompatible with the
usages Of civilization. are the usages
of colorcd troops in Europe and
the extension of the war into Africa,
which was done by a breach of exist
ing treaties and which undcrmines the
prestige of the white race on that con
tincnt. The barbarous treatment OF
prisoners, especially III Africa and
Russia. and the deportation OF the
CIVILIAN population from eastern Prus-
STA. Alsace Lorraine, Galicia and Blu
kowina. are further proof Of how our
adversaries point out the special situ-
alton OF Belgium. The imperial gov
ernnnent is unable to acknowledge that
the Belgian government has always
observed the duties which were en-
Joined upon her by her neutrality. AL
ready by the war Belgium, under Eng
lands Influence, sought support in
military fashion from England and
France and thus herself violated tho
spirit (of the treaty. which she had to
guarantee her independence and neu :
trality.
Places Blame on Allies.
Twice the imperial government de-
clared to the Belgian government that
1t did not come as an enemy to Bel
GUM, and asked it to spare the coun-
try the terrors of war. Germany Of
fered to guarantee the integrity and
independence Of the kingdom to the
full extent and compensate for all
damages. which might be caused by
the passage Of the German troops. 1t
Is known that the royal British gov
eminent in 1887 was resolved not 10
oppose the use OF the right Of way
through Belgium under those CON
ditions.
The Belgian government declined
the repeated offer of the imperial gov
ernment. Upon her and those powers.
which instigated her to this attitude,
falls the responsibility for the fate
which befell Belgium.
The accusations about the German
warfare in. Belgium and the measures
taken there in the interest Of military
safety have been repeatedly rcfuted by
the imperial government as untrue.
Germany again offers energetic protest
against these calumnics.
Honest Peace Attempt.
Germany and her allies have made
an attempt to terminate 10 war and
open the road for an understanding
among the belligerents. The imperial
government asserts the fact that II
merely depended upon the decision of
our adversaries. whether the road
toward peace should be entered upon
or not. The hostile governments de-
clincd to accept this road. Upon them
falls the full responsibility for the
continuation OF the bloodshed.
Our allied. powers. however, shall
continue the struggle in quiet conf
dcnce and with firm trust in their
right until peace is gained, which
guarantees to their nations honor. OK
istencc and liberty OF development and
which to all the nations of the Euro
pean continent gives the privilege to
Cooperate in mutual respect and un-
der equal rights together for the So
luton OF the great problems Of civili-
cation.
R0T MICCEC