hear"] but if the currency of German
commerce is to be debased to the level of that of her statesmanship, no
trader from Shanghai to Valparaiso will ever look at a German signature
again. [Loud applause.] This doctrine of the scrap of paper, this
doctrine which is proclaimed by Bernhardi, that treaties only bind a
nation as long as it is to its interest, goes under the root of all
public law. It is the straight road to barbarism. ["Hear, hear!"] It is
as if you were to remove the magnetic pole because it was in the way of
a German cruiser. [Laughter.] The whole navigation of the seas would
become dangerous, difficult, and impossible; and the whole machinery of
civilization will break down if this doctrine wins in this war. ["Hear,
hear!"] We are fighting against barbarism, [applause,] and there is only
one way of putting it right. If there are nations that say they
will only respect treaties when it is to their interest to do so, we
must make it to their interest to do so for the future. [Applause.]

Germany's Perjury.

What is their defense? Consider the interview which took place between
our Ambassador and the great German officials. When their attention was
called to this treaty to which they were parties, they said: "We cannot
help that. Rapidity of action is the great German asset." There is a
greater asset for a nation than rapidity of action, and that is honest
dealing. [Loud applause.] What are Germany's excuses? She says Belgium
was plotting against her; Belgium was engaged in a great conspiracy with
Britain and France to attack her. Not merely is it not true, but Germany
knows it is not true. ["Hear, hear!"] What is her other excuse. That
France meant to invade Germany through Belgium. That is absolutely
untrue. ["Hear, hear!"] France offered Belgium five army corps to defend
her if she were attacked. Belgium said: "I do not require them; I have
the word of the Kaiser. Shall Caesar send a lie?" [Laughter and
applause.] All these tales about conspiracy have been vamped up since. A
great nation ought to be ashamed to behave like a fraudulent bankrupt,
perjuring its way through its obligations. ["Hear, hear!"] What she says
is not true. She has deliberately broken this treaty, and we were in
honor bound to stand by it. [Applause.]

Belgium's "Crime."

Belgium has been treated brutally. ["Hear, hear!"] How brutally we shall
not yet know. We already know too much. But what had she done? Had she
sent an ultimat