he best means of perfect understanding between us,
an understanding based upon mutual respect, admiration, and cordiality.

You are most welcome and we are greatly honored that you should have
chosen us as the friends before whom you could lay any matter of vital
consequence to yourselves, in the confidence that your cause would be
understood and met in the same spirit in which it was conceived and
intended.

* * * * *

OFFICIAL SUMMARY.

Findings Presented by the Belgian Royal Commission to President Wilson
at Washington, Sept. 16.

* * * * *

I.

Acts at Linsmeau and Orsmael.

Belgium, which wanted peace, has been obliged by Germany to resort to
arms and to oppose a legitimate defense to an aggression which nothing
can justify, and which is contrary to the solemn pledges of treaties.

Belgium is bound in honor to fight loyally and to observe all the rules,
laws, and customs of war.

From the beginning of the invasion of its territory by German troops,
the Belgian Government had posted each and every day, in all the towns,
and the papers have each day repeatedly printed, instructions warning
the non-combatant civilians not to offer any resistance to the troops
and soldiers invading the country.

The information on which the German Government believes today that it
can base its contention that the Belgian population contravenes the law
of nations and is not worthy of respect is absolutely unfounded.

The Government protests most vigorously against these allegations and
against the odious threats of retaliation. If any deed contrary to the
rules of warfare should ultimately be proved, to understand such fact it
is only necessary to realize the well-founded excitement which the
cruelties of the German soldiers are provoking among the Belgian
population--a population which is thoroughly honest but energetic in the
defense of its rights and in its respect for humanity.

If we were to publish a list of these atrocities, of which the first
ones are here recorded, this would indeed be a long list.

Whole regions have been ravaged and abominable deeds perpetrated in the
towns.

A committee attached to the Department of Justice is drawing up a list
of these horrors with scrupulous impartiality.

As an example, a few facts are here published, facts which will depict
the state of mind and the procedure of certain German troops: