Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-12
EQUITABLE PREPARATION
IS DEMAND OF BELGIUM
Could Only Accept Peace Whici, Also
Would Assure Security and
Guarantees for Future
HARSH CRITICISM or GERMANY
Hopes United States. at Time Of Set
lement, VIII Claim for That Ma
ton Rank and Place TO Which 1t
Is Entitled Among Countries.

WASHINGTON. January ll.--A trans-
lation Of the Belgian note, which was
handed I" hmha ssador Sharp with the
entcntc reply, follows:
The government Of the King. which
has associated itself with the answer
handed by the president Of the French
| Council 10 tho American ambassador
on bchal fof all, Is particularly de-
! sirous OF paying tribute to the scnti-
/ ment Of humanity which promptcd the
President OF the United states to send
his note TO the beiligercut powers. and
IL highly cstcems the friendship OK
pressed for RelEium through his kindly
intcr'ncdiation. 1t desires as much AS
MFR. Woodrow Wilson TO see tho pres-
ent war ended as early as possible.
But the President seems 10 believe
that tho statesmen of the two on
posing camps pursue tho same objects
Of war. The example OF Belgium un
/ fortunately demonstrates that this i,
in no wise the fact Belgium has
never. like the central powers. aimed
at conQuests. The barbarous fashion
In which the German government has
t'ca''d. and Is still treating. the Bel
si;.a nation does not permit tho sun
osi''on that Germany will preoccupy
herself with guaranteeing in the fu-
ture tho rights OF the weak nations
which she has not ceased to tramplc
under foot since the war. let loose hy
her. began to desolate Europe. On the
other hand, the government OF the
King has noted with pleasure and with
confidence the assurances that the
United states Is impatient to CO.
operate IN measures which will he
taken after the conclusion OF peace
10 protect and guarantee nations
against violence and oppression.
TRIED TO LIVE: ON coon TERMS
WITH ALL HER NEIGIRoUS
PREVIOUS to the German ultimatum
Belgium only aspircd 10 live upon
good terms with all her ncighbors: she
practiccd with scrupulous loyalty to-
wards each one OF them the duties i'm
posed by her neutrality. In tho same
manner, She has been rewarded hv
Germany for the confidence she placed
in her, through which. from one dav
TO the other, without any plausible
reason her neutrality was violated
and the Chancellor OF the empire when
announcing TO the Reichstag this vio-
!ation Of right and OF treaties was
Obliged 10 recognize the iniquity OF
such an act and predetermine that il
would he repaired. But the Germans,
after the occupation OF Belgian terri
tory. have displayed no better OBJ
servancc OF the rules OF international
law or the stiDulations of The Hague
convention. They have, by taxation.
rs heavy as il IS arbitrary. drained the
resources Of the country: they have
Intentionally ruined its industries de-
stroyed whole cities. put TO death and
imprisoned n considerable number OF
inhabitants. Even now. while they are
loudly prociaiminE their desire to put
an end TO the horrors OF war. they in
crease the rigors OF the occupation by
dcporting into scrvitudc Belgian
workers by the thousands.
IF there is "a country who has the
right To say that it has taken up arms
u defend its existence il is assurcdly
:clSinm. Compelled to fight. or to
submit 10 shame. she passionately de-
sircs that an end be brought To the un-
precedented snfferinEs Of her people.
but she could only accept II peace which
would assure her, as well an equitable
rcparation. security and guarantees
for the future.
The American people. since the be-
ginning of the war. has manifested for
continued on Second Page.)