New York Times Current History: The European War from the Beginning to March 1915, Vol 1, No. 2: Who Began the War, and Why?Various
History
New York Times Current History: The European War from the Beginning to March 1915, Vol 1, No. 2: Who Began the War, and Why?
Various
World War, 1914-1918
The French Government protested on Aug. 18 to the Permanent Bureau of
The Hague Court of Arbitration against the use of dumdum bullets by the
Germans, producing proof obtained by surgeons that French soldiers had
been killed or wounded by these bullets. The German General Staff has
countered this by alleging that it was the French and English who used
the bullets, and the Imperial Chancellor has announced in fiery tones
that in the presence of the example given by the English and French the
German soldiers would henceforth use dumdum bullets; the responsibility
for this procedure, which he himself describes as an act of cruelty and
a violation of an international convention signed by Germany, will rest,
he says, upon the powers of the Triple Entente.
By my Government's orders I have the honor to protest in the most formal
manner to the Danish Government against the lying German allegations.
French soldiers have never used dumdum bullets. The French Government
has never authorized, nor will authorize, its troops to use such
barbarous means of warfare, whatever be the infringements of law and the
cruelties committed by its adversaries. The "Instructions for French
Officers in Wartime" also lay down, and will continue to lay down, that
they are to forbid their men to use bullets at variance with the
stipulations of the Geneva and Hague conventions.
* * * * *
[Illustration: ALBERT, KING OF THE BELGIANS]
THE BELGIAN MISSION.
Officially Explained to President Wilson at the White House,
Washington, Sept. 16.
His Majesty the King of the Belgians has appointed a special envoy for
the purpose of acquainting the President of the United States of America
with the deplorable state of affairs prevailing in Belgium, whose
neutrality has been unjustly violated, and who since the beginning of
hostilities has been the theatre of the worst outrages on the part of
the invading German Army, in defiance of rules solemnized by
international treaty and customs consecrated by public right and law of
nations.
Mr. Henry Carton de Wiart, Minister of Justice, has been chosen for this
mission. He is accompanied by Messrs. de Sadeleer, Hymans, and
Vandervelde, Ministers of State. Count Louis Lichtervelde is attached to
the mission as Secretary.
* * * * *
[Illustration: CARTON DE WIART,
Minister of Justice, Spokesman of the Royal Belgian
Commission to the United States.]
M. DE WIART'S ADDRESS.
Made to the President at the White House, Washington, Sept. 16.
Excellency: His Majesty the King of the Belgians has charged us with a
special mission to the President of the United States.
Let me say to you how much we feel ourselves honored to have been called
upon to express the sentiments of our King and of our whole nation to
the illustrious statesman whom the American people have called to the
highest dignity of the Commonwealth.
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