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.
As far as I am concerned, I have already been able, during a previous
trip, to fully appreciate the noble virtues of the American Nation, and
I am happy to take this opportunity to express all the admiration with
which they inspire me.
Ever since her independence was first established, Belgium has been
declared neutral in perpetuity. This neutrality, guaranteed by the
powers, has recently been violated by one of them. Had we consented to
abandon our neutrality for the benefit of one of the belligerents, we
would have betrayed our obligations toward the others. And it was the
sense of our international obligations as well as that of our dignity
and honor that has driven us to resistance.
The consequences suffered by the Belgian Nation were not confined purely
to the harm occasioned by the forced march of an invading army. This
army not only seized a great portion of our territory, but it committed
incredible acts of violence, the nature of which is contrary to the law
of nations.
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