The North-German Gazette
draws from this discovery the strange conclusion that England intended
to drag Belgium into the war, and at one time contemplated the violation
of Dutch neutrality.
We have only one regret to express on the subject of the disclosure of
these documents, and that is that the publication of our military
documents should be mangled and arranged in such a way as to give the
reader the impression of duplicity on the part of England and adhesion
by Belgium, in violation of her duties as a neutral State, to the policy
of the Triple Entente. We ask the North-German Gazette to publish in
full the result of its search among our secret documents. Therein will
be found fresh and striking proof of the loyalty, correctness, and
impartiality with which Belgium for 81 years has discharged her
international obligations.
It was stated that Col. Barnardiston, the military representative at
Brussels of a power guaranteeing the neutrality of Belgium, at the time
of the Algeciras crisis, questioned the Chief of the Belgian General
Staff as to the measures which he had taken to prevent any violation of
that neutrality. The Chief of the General Staff, at that time Lieut.
Gen. Ducarne, replied that Belgium was ready to repel any invader.
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