BELGIUM AND THE WAR. Whereas the variously-described °causes* of which the war was the effect may long remain the sub ject of controversy among historians — accord ing to the national viewpoint of each, the man ner in which Belgium was swept into the con flict is comparatively clear and simple of expla nation. The political status of Belgium was one of "perpetual neutrality,' imposed upon her without consultation or consent by powerful neighbors. The historic instrument which guaranteed the independence, integrity and per petual neutrality of the kingdom, dated London, 19 April 1839, bears the seals and signatures of the plenipotentiaries of Austria, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Prussia and Russia. "In the name of the Most Holy and Indivisible Trinity° the sovereignty of Belgium was strictly circumscribed at her birth; being "held to observe the same neutrality toward all the other states,' she was not permitted to enter into political agreements with any other state, and was only entitled to call for help if one of the guarantors broke faith and invaded her ter ritory. Of this solitary privilege Belgium duly availed herself on 4 Aug. 1914. On 1 Aug. 1914 Germany declared war on Russia and in vaded Luxemburg, a little state adjoining Bel gium, and similarly a neutral territory with guaranteed independence and integrity (11 May 1867). On 2 August (7 P.M.) the German government issued an ultimatum to Belgium asserting "the intention of France to march through Belgian territory against Germany,' and expressing a °fear that Belgium, in spite of the utmost goodwill, will be unable, without assistance, to repel so considerable a French in vasion with sufficient prospect of success to afford an adequate guarantee against danger to Germany. It is essential for the self-defense of Germany that she should anticipate any such hostile attack.' On the other hand, "the Ger man government would, however, feel the deepest regret if Belgium regarded as an act of hostility against herself the fact that the measures of Germany's opponents force Ger many, for her own protection, to enter Belgian territory.° The note, which was written in German and marked "Very pro ceeded with the following declaration, "in order to preclude any possibility of misunderstand ing,' that: 1. Germany has in view no act of hostility against Belgium. In the event of Belgium be ing prepared in the coming war to maintain an attitude of friendly neutrality toward Germany, the German government bind themselves, at the conclusion of peace, to guarantee the posses sions and independence of the Belgian king dons in full.
2. Germany undertakes, under the above mentioned condition, to evacuate Belgium ter ritory on the conclusion of peace.
3. If Belgium adopts a friendly attitude, Germany is prepared, sn co-operation with the Belgian authorities, to purchase all necessaries for her troops against a cash payment, and to pay an indemnity for any damage that may have been caused by German troops.
4. Should Belgium oppose the German troops, and in particular should she throw dif ficulties in the way of their march by a resist mace of the fortresses on the Meuse, or by de stroying railways, roads, tunnels or other sim ilar works, Germany will, to her regret, be com pelled to consider Belgium as an enemy.
In this event, Germany can undertake no obligations toward Belgium, but the eventual adjustment of the relations between the two States must be left to the decision of arms.
The German government, however, enter tain the distinct hope that this eventuality will not occur, and that the Belgian government will know'how to take the necessary measures to prevent the occurrence of incidents such as those mentioned. In this case the friendly ties which bind the two neighboring states will grow stronger and more enduring.
The Belgian government were given a time limit of 12 hours within which to reply. At 1:30 A.m. on 3 August the German Minister in Brussels called on Baron van der Elst, the Bel gian Foreign Secretary, and informed him that French dirigibles had dropped bombs and a French cavalry patrol had crossed the frontier in violation of international law, as war had not been declared. The Belgian official asked where these incidents had happened, and was told that it was in Germany. Baron van der Elst then observed that in that case he could not .understand the object of this communica tion, to which the German Minister replied that these acts were contrary to international law and "were calculated to lead to the supposition that other acts, contrary to international law, would be committed by France.' During the
same day the Belgian representatives at Paris, London, St. Petersburg, Vienna, Berlin and The Hague were instructed to announce the terms of the German demands and the Belgian reply thereto: "Our answer has been that this infringement of our neutrality would be a flag rant violation of international law. To accept the German proposal would be to sacrifice the honor of the nation. Conscious of her duty, Belgium is firmly resolved to repel any attack by all means in her pow.er." At the same time the King of the Belgians telegraphed to King George making a "supreme appeal' to the Brit ish government "to safeguard the neutrality of Belgium." The British government had (31 July) requested the French and German gov ernments to state whether, in the event of war, both countries would be "prepared to engage to respect the neutrality of Belgium so long as no other power violates it.' France gave a ready guarantee; Germany did not reply. On receipt of the Belgian King's appeal the British government again requested from Germany an assurance that Belgian neutrality would be re spected. Later in the day news came that Ger man troops were at Gemmenich inside the Bel gian frontier opposite Aix-la-Chapelle. The British Ambassador was instructed to demand a reply before midnight. The telegram reached Berlin at 7 P.M., and the German government, without waiting for the full time to expire, handed the Ambassador his passports. The in vasion of Belgium had begun. In a speech to the Belgian Chambers (4 August) King Albert said: "if we are called upon to resist the invasion of our soil and to defend our threatened hearths, this duty, however hard it may be, will find us armed and ready for the greatest sacrifices . . . one vision alone fills our thoughts — our menaced independence; one duty alone presents itself to our wills—stub born resistance. In these grave circumstances two virtues are requisite, a courage that is calm and stedfast, and complete unity among all Belgians. If the foreigner violates our territory, in contempt of the neutrality whose claims we have always scrupulously ob served, he will find all Belgians grouped around their Sovereign, who will never betray his con stitutional oath, and around the government which enjoys the full confidence of the entire nation. . . . A country which defends itself wins the respect of all. . . . That country does not perish.° See ALBERT, KING OF THE BELGIANS ; BETH MAN N-HOLLWEG, VON BALD ; WAR, EUROPEAN - DIPLOMATIC HISTORY.
Belloc, Hilaire, 'General Sketch of the European War' (London 1916); I3illiard, R., (La Belgique indtistrielle et com merciale de demain) (Paris 1915); Brangwyn, F., and Stokes, H., (Belgium) (London 1916) ; Cram, R. A., (Heart of Europe) (ib. 1916); Buchan, J., (ed.), (Nelson's History of the War' (London 1914 et seq.); Essen, L., van der, (A Short History of Belgium) (ib. 1916); Gibson, Hugh, 'A Journal from Our Legation in Belgium) (New York 1917); Hampe, Karl, (Belgiens Vergangenheit und Gegenwart) (Leipzig 1916); Fried, A. H., (The Restoration of Europe) (London 1916); Huberich, C. H., and Nicol-Speyer, A., (German Legislation for the Occupied Territories of Belgium' —Official Texts (The Hague 1915 et seq.); Ingpen, R., 'The Glory of Belgium' (London 1914); Kess ler, O., (Das deutsche Belgien) (Berlin 1915) ; Krusch, P., (Die nutzbaren Lagerstatten Bel giens, ihre geologische Position und wirtschaft liche Bedeutung) (Essen 1916); Norden, Fritz, (Das neutrale Belgien und Deutschland irn Urteil belgischer Staatsmanner und Juristen) (Munich 1916); Massart, J., 'Belgians under the German Eagle) (London 1916); Probst, Eugen, (Belg.ien: Eindriicke eines Ncutralen) (Zurich 1916); Quelle, Otto, (Belgien und die f ranzosischen Nachbargebietc ( Brunswidc 1916) ; Visscher, C. de, (Belgium's Case: A Juridical Enquiry) (London 1916); Waxweiler, E., (Belgium and the Great Powers) (ib. 1916). Consult also (The Times Documentary History of the War) (London 1915 et seq.); (Reponse au Livre-Blanc allemand du 10 Mai 1915'—"Die Volkerrechtswidrige Fiihrung des belgischen Volkskriegs° (Royaume de Belgique, Ministere de la Justice, et Ministere des Affaires Etran geres, Guerre de 1914-16, Paris 1916) ; Stowell, E., and Munro, A. F., (International Cases: Peace) (London 1917).