Belgo-British Plot Alleged by Germany
Statement Issued by German Emba.s.sy at Washington, Oct. 13.
The German Amba.s.sador drew special attention today to the telegram which came from German headquarters. This telegram proves the German contention that the Allies did not intend to respect Belgian neutrality.
It even proves more, namely, that Belgian neutrality practically did not exist and that the Belgian Government was conspiring with the Allies against Germany. Notwithstanding the denials coming from French sources it is a fact that French prisoners were taken at Liege and Namur, who acknowledged that they had been in those fortresses before the German troops entered Belgium.
On the French side it has been a.s.serted that the German Chancellor in Parliament had acknowledged that Germany was doing wrong in violating Belgian neutrality. It must, however, not be overlooked that the Chancellor further said:
We know that the Allies do not intend to respect Belgian neutrality, and Germany, in the position she is in, attacked from three sides, cannot wait, while the Allies can wait.
At that time the Belgian archives were not at the disposal of the German Government. If the Chancellor had known at the time he made his speech that Belgium was not neutral he would certainly have spoken of the alleged Belgian neutrality in a different way.
Germany has violated the frontiers of no really neutral country, while the Allies are on record for disregarding all obligations toward China.
Text of Wireless Message.
Headquarters report German military authorities searching archives of Belgian General Staff at Brussels, found portfolio inscribed "Intervention Anglaise-Belgique," containing important doc.u.ments:
1. Report to Belgian War Minister, dated April 10, 1906, containing result detailed negotiations between Chief of Belgian General Staff and British Military Attache at Brussels, Lieut. Col. Barnardiston.
Plan of English origin sanctioned by Major Gen. Grierson, Chief English General Staff, contains strength, formation, landing places, expeditionary-force 100,000 men; continuing, settles plan Belgian General Staff transport accommodations, feeding in Belgium, Belgian interpreters, gendarmerie, landing places at Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne. Details Barnardiston remarks for present Holland cannot be relied upon. Further confidential communication that English Government after destruction of German Navy will direct supply provision via Antwerp. Finally suggestion from England military attache that Belgian espionage service should be organized in Prussian Rheinland.
2. Map showing strategical drawing up of French Army demonstrating existence of French-Belgian agreement.
3. Report of Baron Greindl, Belgian Minister to Berlin, to Belgian Foreign Office, dated Dec. 23, 1911. Greindl, commenting on plan of Belgian General Staff for defense of Belgo-German frontier in Franco-German war, points to threatening violation of neutrality by France, saying: "Danger French attack threatening us, not only near Luxemburg, but on whole length of common frontier, This a.s.sertion no guess work, but founded upon positive facts."
Minister further thoroughly discusses Entente"s plans for pa.s.sage through Belgium, Calais, and England. France doubtful protectors, Barnardiston"s insinuations relative Flushing question, both perfidious and nave postulates dressing plan of battle against threatening Franco-British invasion into Belgium in Franco-German war.
GREAT BRITAIN"S DENIAL.
Statement Issued by British Foreign Office, London, Oct. 14.
The story of an alleged Anglo-Belgian agreement of 1906, published in the German press and based on doc.u.ments said to have been found at Brussels is only a press edition of a story which has been reproduced in various forms and denied on several occasions. No such agreement has ever existed as Germans well know. Gen. Grierson is dead and Col., now Gen., Barnardiston is commanding the British forces before Tsing-tau.
In 1906 Gen. Grierson was on the General Staff at the War Office and Col. Barnardiston was military attache at Brussels. In view of the solemn guarantee given by Great Britain to protect the neutrality of Belgium against violation from any side some academic discussions may, through the instrumentality of Col. Barnardiston, have taken place between Gen. Grierson and the Belgian military authorities as to what a.s.sistance the British Army might be able to afford to Belgium should one of her neighbors violate that neutrality. Some notes with reference to the subject may exist in the archives at Brussels.
It should be noted that the date mentioned, namely 1906, was the year following that in which Germany had, as in 1911, adopted a threatening att.i.tude toward France with regard to Morocco and in view of the apprehensions existing of an attack on France through Belgium it was natural that possible eventualities should be discussed.
The impossibility of Belgium having been a party to any agreement of the nature indicated or to any design for violation of Belgian neutrality is clearly shown by reiterated declarations that she has made for many years past that she would resist to the utmost any violation of her neutrality from whatever quarter and in whatever form such violation might come. It is worthy of attention that these charges of aggressive designs on the part of other powers are made by Germany who, since 1906, has established an elaborate network of strategical railways leading from the Rhine to the Belgian frontier through a barren, thinly populated tract, deliberately constructed to permit of the sudden attack upon Belgium which was carried out two months ago.
REPLY TO GREAT BRITAIN.
Statement by Count von Bernstorff, German Amba.s.sador, Washington, Oct.
15.
Concerning the Anglo-Belgian military agreement existing since 1906, a formal denial has been issued by England, which proves nothing. The doc.u.ments are in the hands of the German authorities, and will be published in full. The facts remain that a so-called "neutral" country concluded a military agreement with England, which provided for landing of British troops in this "neutral" country. The doc.u.ment proves that by its own free will "neutral Belgium" accepted the British offer and decided to fight on the side of the Allies.
England instigated Belgium to go to war, and when the time came to protect the unfortunate little country it was left to its own resources.
Germany, on the other hand, which had heard of Belgium"s agreement with England at the beginning of this war, offered to protect Belgium and to pay full indemnity for all her losses. Germany would have religiously kept her promise.
The doc.u.ments found in Brussels further prove that as far back as 1906 England was systematically trying to bring about the coalition which has now forced war on Germany.
GRAY BOOK"S TESTIMONY.
Statement by E. Havenith, Belgian Minister to the United States, Washington, Oct. 22.
The Belgian Legation has just received the copies of the "Gray Book." It is evident from these doc.u.ments that there has never existed any military agreement between Belgium and England, either offensive or defensive, such as the German Government a.s.serts to have been in existence since 1906. The following extracts speak for themselves:
_No. 28--Offer of intervention by England. Note handed to Sir Francis H. Villiers, British Minister to Belgium, to M. Davignon, Minister of Foreign Affairs._
Brussels, Aug. 4, 1914.
I am instructed to inform the Belgium Government that, if Germany exercises pressure for the purpose of compelling Belgium to abandon her position of a neutral country, the Government of his Britannic Majesty expects Belgium to resist by every possible means.
The Government of his Britannic Majesty is ready in that event to join with Russia and France, if desired by Belgium, to offer to the Belgian Government at once common action for the purpose of resisting the use of force by Germany against Belgium and at the same time to offer a guarantee to maintain the independence and integrity of Belgium in the future.
_No. 37--Offer of England for an alliance for the object of a.s.suring the neutrality of Belgium against the pressure of Germany._
London, Aug. 4, 1914.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs has informed the British Ministers in Norway, Holland, and Belgium that Great Britain expects that these three kingdoms will resist the pressure of Germany and maintain neutrality. They will be supported in their resistance by England, who in such a case is ready to co-operate with France and Russia, if such is the desire of these three Governments, in offering an alliance to the said Governments to repel the employment of force against them by Germany and a guarantee for the future maintenance of the independence and the integrity of the three kingdoms.
I pointed out that Belgium is neutral in perpetuity. The Minister for Foreign Affairs replied: "It is for the event of neutrality being violated."
(Signed) LALAING,
Belgium Minister in London.
_No. 40--Belgium appeals to the powers after the invasion of Belgium._