ended
defense was thus bluntly stated by the German Premier:

We are now in a state of necessity and necessity knows no
law. Our troops have occupied Luxemburg and perhaps are
already on Belgian soil. _Gentlemen, that is contrary to the
dictates of international law._ It is true that the French
Government has declared at Brussels that France is willing
to respect the neutrality of Belgium, so long as her
opponent respects it. We knew, however, that France stood
ready for invasion. _France could wait, but we could not
wait._ A French movement upon our flank upon the lower Rhine
might have been disastrous. So we were compelled to override
the _just protest_ of the Luxemburg and Belgian Governments.
_The wrong--I speak openly--that we are committing_ we will
endeavor to make good as soon as our military goal has been
reached. Anybody who is threatened, as we are threatened,
and is fighting for his highest possessions, can only have
one thought--how he is to hack his way through.

It will be noted that on this occasion, when above all other occasions
it was not only the duty, but to the highest interests of Germany, to
give to the world any substantial reason for violating the neutrality
of Belgium, the defense of Germany is rested upon the ground of
self-interest,--euphemistically called "necessity,"--_and upon none
other_.

While von Bethmann-Hollweg's statement does state that "France held
herself in readiness to invade Belgium," there was no intimation that
France had done so, or had any immediate intention of doing so. On the
contrary, it was added, "_France could wait, we (Germany) could not._"
If Belgium had forfeited its rights by undue favors to France or
England, _why did the Chancellor characterize its protest as "just"?_

How Germany fulfilled the promise of its Chancellor, to "make good"
the admitted wrong which it did Belgium, subsequent events have shown.

It may be questioned whether, since the Thirty Years' War, any country
has been subjected to such general devastating horrors. So little
effort has been taken by the conqueror to lessen the inevitable
suffering, that fines have been levied upon this impoverished people,
which would be oppressive even in a period of prosperity. It is
announced from Holland, as this book goes to press, that Germany has
imposed upon this war-desolated country a fine of $7,000,000 per month
a