The Washington times., 1917-06-17
The Belgian Mission

Inc OEAkAdA 4AAooANA NAeN
the National Capital today is the Sec
ond that Belgium has sent to our
shores since the beginning Of the
European war. The difference in the
reception of the two missions marks
the difference in American appre-
citation of her own position as a
world power and her inevitable alli-
anee with the democratic nations Of
the world against a military autoc-
racy that must be destroyed ere the
peace of the world can be assured.
When the first Belgian commission
arrived in September, 1914 (How
much has happened in these three
fateful years!), our people were bent
on preserving our neutrality and
playing fair with both sides. The
delegation was received with express
sions Of sympathy, but with asser-
tions of our policy Of non-interfer-
ence. Even Theodore Roosevelt, who
afterward became such a doughty
champion Of Belgium and the fore
most advocate of our duty to enter
the war in her behalf, expressed him
self thus upon the arrival of the first
Belgian mission to America, and
this was after the violation Of Ger
many's treaty with Belgium, after
Liege. and Louvain, and Namur, and
the battle of the Marne; he undoubt-
edly expressed American opinion at
the time:
A deputation of Belgians has
arrived in this country TO invoke
our assistance in the time of our
dreadful need. What action our
Government can or will take 1
know not . It is certainly
eminently desirable that We
should remain entirely neutral,
and nothing but urgent need
would warrant our breaking our
neutrality and taking sides one
way or the other. . We have
not the smallest responsibility for
what has befallen her. and ] am
sure that the sympathy of this
country for the suffering OF the
men, women. and children of Bel
GUM Is very real. NeNeTlntleSSs
this sympathy is compatible with
full acknowledgment of the un-
wisdom OF our utterinG a single
word Of protest, unless we are
prepared TO make that protest ef-
fective: and only the clearest and
most urgent national duty would
ever justify us in deviatinE from
our rule OF neutrality and nom
interference.
The Belgian mission which we
welcome today comes from an ally
whose cause we have made our own,
reparation for whose injuries We
shall insist upon at whatever cost,
and the restoration of whose terri
tory we regard as an essential con-
dition of peace. The same relentless
autocracy that despised a sacred
treaty as a scrap of paper has vio-
lated our national sovereignty and
murdered our citizens. The free
peoples Of the world today recognize
that the cause Of Belgium is the
cause of US all.
Among the heroic figures devel-
oped by this war two from Belgium
stand out in clear distinction and
make their own appeal to America,
Albert, Democrat among Kings, and
Cardinal MERCER, the great priest
who has defed Germany from with
in her battle lines, whose voice
raised in protest to the nations de-
manding justice for his people even
the Kaiser is afraid to still.
Baron Moncheur, General Leclercq,
Major Osterreith. Hector earlier,
Louis D'Ursel, and Jean B. Martens
will be welcomed for their own sakes,
but chiefly because they represent to
America the brave little nation that
saved Europe by observing its own
treaty obligations, that has suffered
untold cruelties and ignominies, and
that has produced for the worlds
emulation and inspiration two such
men as King Albert and Cardinal
Mercier.
Red Cross Week