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 documents that there has never existed any
military agreement between Belgium and England, either offensive or
defensive, such as the German Government asserts 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
assuring 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._
Brussels, Aug. 4, 1914.
Monsieur le Ministre--The Belgium Government regrets to have to
announce to your Excellency that this morning the armed forces of
Germany penetrated into Belgian territory, violating the
engagements which they have undertaken by treaty.
The Belgian Government are firmly decided to resist by all means in
their power.
Belgium appeals to England, to France, and to Russia to co-operate
as guarantors in the defense of her territory.
There should be a concerted and common action, having as its object
to resist the measures of force employed by Germany against Belgium
and at the same time to guarantee the maintenance of the
independence and integrity of Belgium for the future.
Belgium is happy to be able to declare that she will undertake the
defense of the fortified places. I am, &c.,
(Signed) DAVIGNON,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium.
Where is to be found the alleged military convention said to have been
concluded in 1906 with England? Where is the agreement said to have
existed since 1906 between the Allies to force war on Germany? These
documents clearly prove that such compact never existed.
The Belgian nation preferred ruin and death to the shameful perjury
proposed to her by Germany. For this reason Germany has devastated and
immersed in blood a peaceful little country. Today she seeks to rob her
of honor, her only remaining treasure.
The official documents, the confessions of the German statesmen, the
ruins of Louvain, Malines, Aerschot, Termonde, and of so many villages
burned and razed to the ground, the blood of her children unjustly
massacred are the testimonies which the Belgian people cites before the
tribunal of public conscience. To this tribunal, without fear, the
Belgian Nation confides the cause of her honor.
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