The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-01-04

I vantage to the aggressors who. after
| imagining that they would reach theii
goal in two months, discovered aftei
| two years that they could never at
| tain it.
"As for the future, the disasters
| caused by the German declaration OF
war and the immune rable outrages
committed by Germany and her allies
| against both belligerents and neutrals,
demand penalties, reparation and
guarantees Germany avoids mention
of any of these.
''In reality these overtures made by
| the central powers are nothing more
| than a calculated attempt to influence
the future course of war and to end "
by imposing German peace. The Oh
ject of these overtures is TO create
disssension in public opinion in the
allied countries. But that public opin'
ion has, in spite of all the sacrifices
endured by the allies, already given its
answer with admirable firmness and
has denounced the empty pretense ol
the declaration OF the enemy powers.
"They have the further object OF
stiffening public opinion in Germany
and in the countries allied to her; one
and all severely tried by their losses.
crushed by the supreme effort which
has been imposed upon their inhabi'
tants.
FINALLY, these overtures attempt &c
justify in advance in the eyes OF Tho
world a series of crimes. submarine
warfare, deportations, forced labor and
forced enlistment of the inhabitants
against their own country and viola
tions of neutrality
Fully conscious of the gravity OF
this moment, but equally conscious oil
it's requirements the allied govern
ments, closely united to one another
and in perfect sympathy with their
peoples, refuse to consider a proposal
which is empty and insincere.
Once again the allies declare that
no peace is possible so long as they
have not secured reparation for violat'
ed rights and liberties, the recognition
of the principle of nationalities and oil
the free existence of small states. so
long as they have not brought about
settlement calculated to end al once
and for all forces which have consii'
tuted perpetual menace to the ma
tions and TO afford the only effective
guarantee for the future security OF
the world
IN conclusion the allied powers
think it necessary TO put forward the
following considerations, which show
the special situation of Belgium after
two and a half years of war:
In virtue of the international treat
les signed by five great European
powers. of whom Germany was one,
Belgium enjoyed before the war n
special status. rendering her territory
al, har ha
guarantee of the powers, outside all
European conflicts. She was. however,
in spite of these treaties. the first to
suffer the aggression of Germany. For
this reason the Belgian government
thinks II necessary to define the aims
which Belgium has never ceased 20
pursue while fighting side by side
with the entente powers for right and
justice.
Belgium has always scrupulously
fulfilled the duties which her neutral
ity imposed upon her. She has taken
up arms to defend her independence
and her neutrality violated by Ger
many and to show that she remains
faithful to her international, obliga-
tons
son the 4th of August, 1914. in the
Reichstag the German chancellor ad'
mitted that this aggression constituted
an injustice contrary to the laws OF
nations, and pledged himself in The
name of Germany to repair ii. Dur
ing two and a half years this injustice
has been cruelty aggravated by the pro
ceedings of the occupying forces,which
have exhausted the resources OF the
country, ruined its industries, devas
tated its towns and villages, and have
been responsible for innumerable mas
sacres, executions and imprisonments.
AT this very moment, wiille Ger
many is proclaiming peace and human
ity to the world she is depoTtmg Bel
gian citizens by thousands and rehuc-
ing them to slavery.
Belgium before the war asked Tor
nothing but to live in harmony with
her neighbors. Her king and her gov
ernment have but one aim-the re-es-
tablishment of peace and justice. But
they only desire peace which would as
sure their country legitimate repara-
ton, guarantees and safeguards for
the future
Austro- Hungarian empire and Bull
garia This will solidify the territory
dominated by the TeutOnic empirps