The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-12

has associated itself with the answer handed by the president of the French council to the American ambassador on behalf of all, is particularly desrous of paying tribute to the sentiment of hu- manity which prompted the President of the United States to send his note to the belligerent powers and it highly es- teens the friendship expressed for Bel gium through his kindly intermediation. It desires as much as MT Woodrow Will son to see the present wal ended as early as possible.
 OBJECTS NOT SAME
 "But the President seems to believe that the statesmen of the two opposing camps pursue the same objects of war. The ex- ample of Belgium unfortunately demon strates that this is in no wise the fact. Belgium has never, like the central pow CTS, aimed at conquests. The barbarous fashion in which the German government has treated and still is treating the Bel gian nation, does not permit the suppo- sition that Germany will preoccupy her self with guaranteeing in the future the rights of the weak nations which she has not ceased to trample under foot since the war. let loose by her, began to deso- late Europe. On the other hand, the government of the King has noted with pleasure and with confidence the assur- ances that the United States is impa- ,tient to cooperate in the measures which will be taken after the conclusion of peace, to protect and guarantee the small nations against violence and oppression.
 Previous to the German ultimatum, Belgium only aspired to live upon good terms with all her neighbors; she prac- ticed with scrupulous loyalty towards each one of them the duties imposed by her neutrality. Tn the same manner she has been rewarded by Germany for the confidence she placed in her, through which, from one day to the other, with out any plausible reason, her neutrality was violated, and the chancellor of the empire when announcing to the Reich stag this violation of right and of treaties, was obliged to recognize the inequity of such an act and predetermine that it would be repaired. But the Ger mans, after the occupation of Belgium territory, have displayed no better ob- servance of the rules of international law or the stipulations of The Hague convention. They have, by taxation, as heavy as it is arbitrary, drained the re- sources of the country; they have inten- tionally ruined it's industries, destroyed whole cities, put to death and imprisoned a considerable number of inhabitants. Even now. while they are loudly pro- claiming their desire to put an end to the horrors of war, they increase the rigors of the occupation by deporting into servi- tude Belgian workers by the thousands
 If there is country which has the
 right to say that it has taken up arms to defend it's existence it is assuredly Belgium. Compelled to fight or to sub init to shame, she passionately desires that an end be brought to the unprece- dented sufferings of her population. But she could only accept peace which would assure her, as well as equitable reparation, security and guarantees for the future.
 'Th American people since the begin ming of the war has manifested for the oppressed Belgian nation it's most ardent sy nlpa thy It is an American committee, the commission for relief in Belgim, which, in close union with the govern ment of the King and the national com mittee, displays an untiring devotion and activity III victua,lIg Belgium The gov ernment of the King is happy to avail itself of this opportunity to express its profound gratitude to the commission for relief as well as to the generous Ameri- cans eager to relieve the misery of the
 Belgian population. Finally, now where
 more than in the United States have the abductions and deportations of Bel gan civilians provoked such spon- toneouS movement of protestatlon and indignant reproof.
 'sThese facts entirely to the honor of the American nation, allow the govern
 nient of the King to entertain the legiti- mate hope that at the time of the defi- mite settlement of this long war, the l voice of the entente powers will find in l the United States unanimous echo to claim in favor of the Belgian nation, 1 innocent victim of German ambition and 1 covetousness, the rank and the place which it's irreproachable past, the valol of it's soldiers, it's fidelity to honor and
 it's remarkable faculties for work as- sign to it among the cicvilized nations. :.