of the German Imperial Government in the
violation of the neutrality of Belgium, which Prussia, as well as Great
Britain and France, had solemnly guaranteed by treaty (made in 1839 and
renewed in 1870); in invading Belgium when she refused to allow her
armies to pass, although France, the other belligerent, had explicitly
promised not to enter Belgium; and in treating Belgian cities and people
against whom she had no cause of quarrel with a harshness unprecedented
in the history of modern European warfare.

What are these doctrines? I do not for a moment attribute them to the
learned class in Germany, for whom I have profound respect, recognizing
their immense services to science and learning; nor to the bulk of the
civil administration, a body whose capacity and uprightness are known to
all the world, and least of all to the German people generally. That the
latter hold no such views appears from Bernhardi's own words, for he
repeatedly complains of and deplores the pacific tendencies of his
fellow countrymen.

[_Note--See Pp. 10-14 of the English translation and note the
phrase: "Aspirations for peace seem to poison the soul of the
German people._"]

Nevertheless, the fact that the action referred to, which these
doctrines seem to have prompted, and which cannot be defended except by
them, has been actually taken and has thus brought into this war Great
Britain, whose interests and feelings made her desire peace, renders it
proper to call attention to them and to all that they involve.

I have certainly no prejudice in the matter, for I have been one of
those who for many years labored to promote good relations between the
German and English peoples, that ought to be friendly, and that never
before had been enemies; and I had hoped and believed till the beginning
of August last that between them at least there would be no war, because
Belgian neutrality would be respected.

Nor was it only for the sake of Great Britain and Germany that English
friends of peace sought to maintain good feeling. We had hoped, as some
leading German statesmen had hoped, that a friendliness with Germany
might enable Great Britain, with the co-operation of the United States,
our closest friends, to mitigate the long antagonism of Germany and of
the French, with whom we were already on good terms, and to so improve
their relations as to secure the general peace of Europe.

Into the causes which frustrated these efforts a