View source for Belgian Note supplementary to the Entente Reply to President Wilson's Peace Note, January 10, 1917

<p align="right"> [[Main_Page | WWI Document Archive ]] > [[1916 Documents]] > [[Official Communications and Speeches Relating to Peace Proposals 1916-1917]] > '''Belgian Note supplementary to the Entente Reply to President Wilson's Peace Note, January 10, 1917'''</p><hr>

Belgian Note supplementary to the Entente Reply to President Wilson's Peace Note, January 10, 1917<sup>1</sup><br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<i>Ambassador Sharp to the Secretary of State</i><br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[TELEGRAM]<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;AMERICAN EMBASSY,  <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Paris, January 10, 1917. <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Copy of Belgian note as follows: <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The Government of the King, which has associated itself with <br>
the answer handed by the President of the French Council to the <br>
American Ambassador on behalf of all, is particularly desirous of <br>
paying tribute to the sentiment of humanity which prompted the <br>
President of the United States to send his note to the belligerent <br>
powers and it highly esteems the friendship expressed for Belgium <br>
through his kindly intermediation. It desires as much as Mr. Wood- <br>
row Wilson to see the present war ended as early as possible. <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"But the President seems to believe that the statesmen of the two <br>
opposing camps pursue the same objects of war. The example of <br>
Belgium unfortunately demonstrates that this is in no wise the fact.<br>
Belgium has never, like the Central Powers, aimed at conquests. The <br>
barbarous fashion in which the German Government has treated, and <br>
is still treating, the Belgium nation, does not permit the supposition <br>
that Germany will preoccupy herself with guaranteeing in the future <br>
the rights of the weak nations which she has not ceased to trample <br>
under foot since the war, let loose by her, began to desolate Europe. <br>
On the other hand, the Government of the King has noted with pleas- <br>
ure and with confidence the assurances that the United States is im- <br>
patient to cooperate in the measures which will be taken after the <br>
conclusion of peace, to protect and guarantee the small nations against <br>
violence and oppression. <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Previous to the German ultimatum, Belgium only aspired to live <br>
upon good terms with all her neighbors ; she practiced with scrupulous <br>
loyalty towards each one of them the duties imposed by her neutrality. <br>
In the same manner she has been rewarded by Germany, for the confi- <br>
dence she placed in her, through which, from one day to the other, <br>
without any plausible reason, her neutrality was violated, and the <br>
Chancellor of the Empire when announcing to the Reichstag this viola- <br>
tion of right and of treaties, was obliged to recognize the iniquity of <br>
such an act and predetermine that it would be repaired. But the Ger- <br>
mans, after the occupation of Belgian territory, have displayed no <br>
better observance of the rules of international law or the stipulations <br>
of the Hague Convention. They have, by taxation, as heavy as it <br>
is arbitrary, drained the resources of the country; they have inten- <br>
tionally ruined its industries, destroyed whole cities, put to death and <br>
imprisoned a considerable number of inhabitants. Even now, while <br>
they are loudly proclaiming their desire to put an end to the horrors of <br>
war, they increase the rigors of the occupation by deporting into <br>
servitude Belgian workers by the thousands. <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“If there is a country which has the right to say that it has taken <br>
up arms to defend its existence, it is assuredly Belgium. Compelled <br>
to fight or to submit to shame, she passionately desires that an end <br>
be brought to the unprecedented sufferings of her population. But <br>
she could only accept a peace which would assure her, as well as <br>
equitable reparation, security and guarantees for the future. <br>
"The American people, since the beginning of the war, has mani-<br> 
fested for the oppressed Belgian nation, its most ardent sympathy. <br>
It is an American committee, the Commission for Relief in Belgium <br>
which, in close union with the Government of the King and the Na- <br>
tional Committee, displays an untiring devotion and marvelous activ- <br>
ity in re-victualling Belgium. The Government of the King is happy <br>
to avail itself of this opportunity to express its profound gratitude to <br>
the Commission for Relief as well as to the generous Americans <br>
eager to relieve the misery of the Belgian population. Finally, no- <br>
where more than in the United .States have the abductions and de- <br>
portations of Belgian civilians provoked such a spontaneous move- <br>
ment of protestation and indignant reproof. <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"These facts, entirely to the honor of the American nation, allow <br>
the Government of the King to entertain the legitimate hope that at <br>
the time of the definitive settlement of this long war, the voice of the <br>
Entente Powers will find in the United States a unanimous echo to <br>
claim in favor of the Belgian nation, innocent victim of German <br>
ambition and covetousness, the rank and the place which its irre- <br>
proachable past, the valor of its soldiers, its fidelity to honor and its <br>
remarkable faculties for work assign to it among the civilized nations." <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;SHARP.<br>

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<sup>1</sup>Official print of the Department of State.