Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-17
RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH: SUNDAY NOVEMBER IT, 1918

EelRian Minister for Foreign Affairs
n ;.x, ~ "a to London and 70 Paris IN
put with tho draft OF his answer
raithfui to her international en-
few days before tho German ultima
tum This answer was forwarded to
nepiin after reGeiTng the fun and en-
Inc same policy has been followed
throughort and the declaration JUS
mace hy MT, Hymans is another proof
OF II: The recent communications
were transmitted from Berne TO the
Se LEE Ministry Of Foreign Affairs
While Germany constantly altered
ner oponion concerning peace condi
ti1n" and the future of Belgium. King
AibeTts government never changed It's
mind. In the note addressed TO MIR
VIE Wiiso m or, on December 80: 1915 in tho
restoration of the independence OF the
:ountrr. indemnities Tor the damage
~ Wr1 then ,h AMI security TO; the future
ii still demands it to-day, nothing less,
nothing more.
ENERGETIC ATTITUDE
MOST REMARKABLE
This energetic attitude Is all the
MGR" remarkable in that the Belgium
government must take into account the
! wishes OF the overwhelming majority
" lie itople VINO. unuer German yoke,
nuhei from prosecutions. plumber and
Famine. and who are anxiously waiting
the hou of deliverance.
The recent German proposal did not
mention indemnities and guarantees. 1t
| ald not even grant unconditional in
dependence. Previous com erciai
treaties must he maintained, the Flem-
ish question must be taken up the
allied governments must be induced
20 restore German coloniey.
TIE entent3, readers do not perhaps
such proposals. They would amount to
| this: Germany, after systcmaticaliv
destroying Belgium's machinery and
stealing her stocks of raw material.
country as cL.nping ground on the
morrow OF the signature OF peace. The
LIE band Of traitors who. under the
enemy to bring about The administra-
t;Ve separation of the country and pro-
Gained the Independence Of Flanders.
would remain unpublished, part. at
least, or their destructive work being
preserved, And belgium. whose col.
ony has been threatened for twenty
years. past by inc ambitions OF Ger
many in Central Af,'ca. should use her
credit TO restore this menace She
who has suffered most at German hands
should become Germany's advocate.
IT the subject were not so tragic, one
might hnd some humor in the situa-
ton. Even before the war. Germany
did not hide her desire to acquire Bel
gian and Portuguese African colonies.
The most moderate of her professors
and statesmen have proclaimed the
necessity OF creating an immense
African empire. extending from the At
lantic to the Indian Ocean. These am
bitions have been further encouraged
lately by the failure of the western
offensive. Belgium escapes, but the
Congo remains.
The recent destruction wrought by
the enemy in the evacuated districts
of France has provoked intense indig-
nation in allied countries. 1t is pro-
posed that the allies should take every
step to convince the German people
!ha, they will have to pay for these or
further outrages. In recent speech.
Lord Northcliffe emphatically Endorsed
this policy: Town for town, village
for village. ship for ship. jewel for
jewel. picture for picture, dollar for
dollar"
GERMANY MUST PAY
DAMAGES TO BELGIUM
Whatever opinion one may have on
the means to be used to convince the
enemy that we are in earnest. 1t is
becoming more and more evident that
n peace without indemnity would con-
stitute a German victory. AS far as
truction wrought during the inva sion