Over and over again the German Chancellor and the Kaiser have declared
that Germany is waging a defensive war, and never intended to annex
Belgium. Shortly after the death of the Governor of Belgium a member of
the Reichstag published General von Bissing's memorandum, signed by its
author. This man enjoyed to an unusual degree the Kaiser's confidence.
In his last testament he declares that King Albert must be dethroned,
dictatorship must be established, the properties of all Belgians who
have fled must be confiscated, and a régime of blood and iron imposed,
otherwise Germany has lost the war. "Our frontier must be pushed
forward to the sea. We must retain all Belgium and link it up with the
German sphere of power. The annual Belgian production of 23,000,000
tons of coal has given us a monopoly on the continent which has helped
us to maintain our vitality. If we do not hold Belgium, administer
Belgium, and protect Belgium by force of arms, our trade and industry
will lose the position they have won. Belgium, therefore, must be
seized and held, as it now is, and as it must be in the future. It only
remains for us, therefore, to avoid, during the peace negotiations, all
discussion about the form of the annexation, and to talk only about the
right of conquest. In view of our just and ruthless procedure, the king
of the Belgians will be deposed, and we can read in Machiavelli that he
who desires to take possession of a country will be compelled to remove
the king, even by killing him."
Nothing can be more obvious, since Machiavelli also says the burglar
often must kill the householder, and Annas had to assassinate Jesus;
but other murderers from the day of Socrates to Lincoln have been more
skillful than von Bissing in announcing and defending their crimes.