GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANSWERED

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2372, 30 January 1915, Page 7

GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANSWERED

THAT "SCRAP OF PAPER" SIR, EDWARD GREY'S REJOINDER ("Titnes" aud SydnoT "Sun" Bcrricel.) (Rec. January 29, 5.20 p.m.) London, January 28. Sir Edward Grey's reply to Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg, tho German Chancellor, says: Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg now asks America to believe, that his phrase, "a scrap of paper,!' meant the exact opposite, namely, that Britain regarded Belgium's neutrality as a mere trine, and that Germany took her responsibilities towards neutrals seriously. "Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg s allegation that England in 1911 determined to throw troops into Belgium without Belgium' 6 assent is absolutely false." • . After detailing the British-Belgian negotiations which led to Belgium in 1913 i'ccoiving the categorical assurance that no British Government would violate her neutrality, Sir Edward Grey added that the reasons why the _ military" danger occurred to Britain ana Belgium, was that Germany was est-ak-Jishuig an elaborate network of strategical railways from the Rhine to the -Belgian froutier, deliberately constructed to permit of a sudden attack on Belgium, such as was carried out in August last. This fact alone was onough to ]ustuy the communications between Belgium and the other Powers. "If Germany took seriously her responsibilities towards neutrals, asKeu Sir Edward Grey, "why did she reiuso to respect the neutrality ot Belgium. lilerr von Bethmann-Holiwcg, 'speaking in the Rciclistag, claimed the right to conimit a wrong in virtue ol a military . necessity. Hack-ins a way through ft | it-eai.v which ('fifburie lliHt wrnpß w*s fct coumxiiQA * sjmo oi

The apologies and arguments which have since been forthcoming . are the afterthoughts and the excuse to explain away a flagrant wrong, arid come badly from a man who; oil July 29, asked Britain to enter into a bargain to condone Germany's violation of neutrality in Belgium. "The shipwreck of Herr von Bethma nn-Hollweg's hope consisted not in the fact of the European war, but in the fact that England did not agree to stand out. If Herr Hollweg really wished for peace, why didn't he, like France, Italy, and Russia, accept our proposal for a conference?"