Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-12

convinced not only their own safety
and prosperity depends but also the
future Of civilization itself"
Belgian Note
! The translation of the Belgian note,
which was handed to Ambassador
Sharp with the Entente reply follows:
The government of the King (which
has associated fself with the answer
handed by the President of the French
go! c1nment TO the American ambassa-
dor Oh behalf OF all, is particularly de-
sirpuI Of paying tribute to the senti-
meat of humanity which prompted the
| Pcs. ent of the United States to send
t.IS note TO the belligerent powers and
l. highly esteems the Friendship eX-
pressed for Belgium through his kind
, ~ Instrumentation. 1t desires as much
IS Mr.. Woodrow Wilson to see the
present war ended as early as possible.
| But the President seems to believe
that the statement of the two opposing
camps pursue the same objects OF war.
Inc example of Belgium unfortunately
demonstrates that this is in no wise
the tact. Belgium has never, like the
central Powers, aimed at conQueStS.
The barbarious fashion in which the
German government has treated and
! is still treating the Belgian nation,
does not permit the supposition that
Germany will occupy itself 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 desc
late Europe. On the other hand, the
government of the King has noted with
pleasure and with confidence the as
surances that the United States is i'm
patient to cooperate in the measures
which will be taken after the conclu-
sion of peace, to protect and guaran-
tee the small nations against violence
and oppression.
Previous to the German ultmatum
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. In 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 trea-
ties was obliged to recognize the inequity
Of such an act and predetermine that
It would be repaired. But the Germans,
after the occupation of Belgian terri
tory. have displayed no better observ>
ance of the rules of international law or
the stipulations of The Hague conven-
ton. They have. by taxation, as heavy
as 1t Is arbitrary, drained the resources
Of the country; they have Intentionally
ruined its Industries, destroyed whole
cities, put to- death and imprisoned a
siderable number of inhabitants. Even
now, while they are loudly proclaimng
their desire to put an end to the horrors
of war, they increase the rigors of the
occupation by derorting into servitude
Belgian workers by the thousands
BeIgium's Right
If there is a country which has the
right to say that it has taken up arms
to defend it's existence, it is assuredly
Belgi um. Compelled to hight on to sub
nit TO shame. she passionately desires
that an end be brought to the unprece-
denied sufferingS of her population.
but SIG tOUlO only iSNSPG u IStNN
which would assure her we'll as
equitable repardtion, security and
guarantees for the future.
The American people since the be-
ginning of the war, has manifested for
the oppressed Belgian nation its most
ardent sympathy. 1t is an American
committee the Commission for Relief
in Belgium which, in close union with
Df In l. inc NO
national committee displays an untir-
ing devotion and marvellous activity
in e-victualling Belgium. The govern
ment of the King is happy to avail it
self of this opportunity TO express its
profound gratitude to the Commission
for Relief as we'll as to the generous
Americans eager to relieve the misery
of the Belgian population. Finally no.
where more than in the United States
have the abductions and deportations
of Belgian civilians provoked such a
spontaneous movement of prOteStation
and indiGnate reproof.
These facts. entirely to the honor of
the American nation, allow the govern
ment of the King to entertain the lcEti-
mate hope that at the time of the dctin
tive settlement of this long war. the
voice OF the Entente Powers will find
in the United States an unanimous echo
to claim in favor of the belligsrent Bel
gian nation innocent victim Of the Ger
man ambition and covetousness, the
rank and the place which its irreproach
able past. the valor OF its soldiers. its
fidelity to honor and its remarkable fac
ulties for work assigned to it among
the civilized nations"
Variations