El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-01-12
GERMANS BITTER
OVER ANSWER
Entente Reply to Wilson
Blasts Peace Hopes for
the Time Being.
Continued from previous page1

the allies by force or against the will
OF their populations; the liberation OF
Italians, OF SlaVs. OF Rumanlans and OF
Ichecc-SlOvaques from foreign doml-
nation; the Acknowledgement of popu-
latlOHs subject 90 the bloody tyranny
/ Of the Turks: the expulsion from Eu-
] rope Of the Ottoman empire which has
] proved itself so radically alien to west
ern civiliza ton.
The intentions OF his majesty. the
emperor Of Russia, regarding Poland
have been clearly indicated in the
; proclamation which he has just ad-
! dressed to his armies. II goes without
Z saying that though the allies wish TO
! liberate Europe from the brutal covet-
) ourness of Prussian militarism. II new
er has been their design. as has been
. alleged, to encompass the eXtermina-
! ton of the German peoples and their
I political disappearance That which
I they desire above all IS TO insure
, peace upon the principles Of liberty
: and justice. upon the inviolable Idel-
lily TO international obligation with
} which the government OF the United
/ States has never ceased to he inspired
Determined to Fight to End
United ia the pursuits o. this sU
preme object the allies are determined.
individually and collectively. TO act
with en their power and TO consent TO
all sacrifices 10 bring to a vigorous
close conflict upon which they are
convinced not only their own safety
and prosperity depends. but also the
future OF civilization itself"
The Belgian Note.
The translation Of the Belgian note.
which was handed 10 ambassador
Sharp. with the entente reply. follows:
The government Of the king which
has associated itself with the answer
handed by the president of the French
council to the American ambassador on
behalf Of all. is particularly DESTROYS of
paying tribute 20 the sentiment of hu-
manity which prompted the president
of the United States to send his note
20 the belligerent powers and il highly
esteems the friendship expressed Tor
Belgium through his kindly intermedi-
alton It desires as much as Mr..
Woodrow Wilson to see the present war
ended as early as possible
BelIiZerents' Objects Not Same.
But the president seems to believe
that the statesmen OF the two oppos-
ing camps pursue the same objects Of
war. The example of Belgium unfOr-
tunately demonstrates that this is in
nowise the fact Belgium has never.
like the central powers. aimed at con-
quests The barbarOus fashion in
which the German government has
treated and is still treating the Bel
picion that Germany viii preOccupy
herself with guaranteeing in the fu-
ture the rights Of the weak nations.
which she has not ceased 10 trample
unueF 1901 since the war let loose Dg
her. began 10 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 10
cooperate in the measures which viii
be taken after the conclusion of peace. &
10 protect and guarantee the small ma
tons against violence and oppression.
Violation BY Germany.
Previous 20 the German ultimatum. ]
Fgaaf inn rannIr - d
good terms with all her neiEhbors. she /
practiced with scrupulous loyalty to- I
wards each one of them the duties i'm :
posed upon her neutrality
But her neutrality was violated. and 4
the chancellor OF the German empire.
when announcing 10 the reichstag this I
violation OF right and Of treaties. was i
obliged TO recognize the iniquitv OF /
such an act and predetermine that il \
would be repaired But the Germans. !
after the occupation Of Belgian terri I
tory. have displayed no better observ- 1
ance OF the rules of international Law !
or the stipulations OF The Hague con-
Vention- They have. by taxation. as
heavy as il is arbitrary drained the
resources OF the country: they have in !
tentionally ruined its industries, de-
stroyed whole cities and put to death /
and imprisoned a considerable number
OF inha bitants. Even now. while they I
are loudly prOclaiming their desire TO
put an end to the horrors Of war. they
increase the rigOrs OF the occupation
by deporting into servitude Belgian /
workers by the thousands
Belgium Fighting in Defence
IF there IS one country which has I
che right to say that il has taken up /
arms to defend its existence. it is as
suredly Belgium. Compelled to fight !
or submit TO shame. she paSsionately 4
desires that an end be brought to the I
unprecedented sufferings of her popu- |
lation. But she could only accept ]
peace which would assure her as well ,
as equitable reparatiOn, security and /
guarantees for the future
The American people. since the be
ginning of the war, have manifested (
for the oppressed Belgian nation most +
ardent sympathy. 1t is an American !
committee. the committee of relief in /
Belgium. which in close union with
national committee. displays an untir- I
ing devotion and marvellous activity in
revictuaIling Belgium. The govern
ment of the king is happy to avail it. {
self of this opportunity to express It's
profound gratitude to the committee
for relief as well as to generous Amer =
lea. eager TO relieve the misery of the
Belgian population Finally. nowhere
more than in the United States have
the abductiOns and deDOrtatiOns Of Bel D
gian civilians provoked such sponta-
neoIs movement of protestation and
indignant reprOoL
Looks 10 L. :. for support.
These facts. entirely to the honor OF
the American nation, allow the govern Z
ment OF the king TO entertain the legit- {
innate hope that at the time of the I
definitive settlement of this long war, .
the voice OF the entente powers viii /
find in the United States a unanimous
echo to claim in favor of the Belgian i
hilton and covetousness. the rank and |
the Mace which its iTreprOaChable past,