View source for Statement of Emile Vandervelde, Belgian Minister of State, on the Peace Proposals

<p align="right"> [[Main_Page | WWI Document Archive ]] > [[1916 Documents]] > [[Official Communications and Speeches Relating to Peace Proposals 1916-1917]] > '''Statement of Emile Vandervelde, Belgian Minister of State, on the Peace Proposals'''</p><hr>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Statement of Emile Vandervelde, Belgian Minister of State, on the Peace Proposals<sup>1</sup><br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;From clandestine inquiries which I have been able to make among <br>
the popular leaders in the occupied part of Belgium since the pub- <br>
lication of the German peace proposals I believe that the Belgian <br>
people are in complete accord with their Government in the atti- <br>
tude it has assumed towards the Chancellor's note. There must be <br>
no annexation if the peace following this war is to prevent other <br>
wars. That is one of the reasons why it would be futile even to <br>
comment upon the suggestion from German sources that the Germans <br>
are willing to abandon Belgium in exchange for the Belgian Congo. <br>
<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;*<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There is no complaint of your President's action among the Bel- <br>
gian people. We believe that Mr. Wilson acted wholly in the spirit <br>
of humanitarianism, and that the steps he has taken will help rather <br>
than harm our cause. A comparison of the Allies' expression of <br>
views and our enemies' will suffice, I think, to convince the United <br>
States of the insincerity of Germany's attitude and the impossibility <br>
of discussing her present proposals. <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It is very possible, however, that as her need for peace, which I <br>
believe to be very great, grows more pronounced, Germany will come<br>
forward with more reasonable proposals. It would then become <br>
necessary for us to scrutinize such future offers as closely as we <br>
have those already formulated and declined. <br>
<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;*<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The incredible, brutal slave traffic in which the Germans are now <br>
engaged in Belgium, against which your Government has raised its <br>
voice, has only served to increase my compatriots' horror of a peace <br>
imposed by Berlin.<br>

<hr>
<sup>1</sup><i>The Times</i>, London, January 9th, 1917.