hat in
their great struggle of 1870-71, each scrupulously respected that
neutrality, and France carried out her obligations to such an extreme
that although Napoleon and his army could have at one time escaped
from Sedan into Belgium, and renewed the attack and possibly--although
not probably--saved France, if they had seen fit to violate that
neutrality, rather than break the word of France the Emperor Napoleon
and his army consented to the crowning humiliation of Sedan.

In the year 1911, in the course of a discussion in Belgium in respect
to the fortifications at Flushing, certain Dutch newspapers asserted
that in the event of a Franco-German war, the neutrality of Belgium
would be violated by Germany. It was then suggested that if a
declaration were made to the contrary in the Reichstag, that such a
declaration, "would be calculated to appease public opinion and to
calm its suspicions."

This situation was communicated to the present German Chancellor, von
Bethmann-Hollweg, who instructed the German Ambassador at Brussels to
assure the Belgian Foreign Minister,

that he was most appreciative of the sentiment which had
inspired our [Belgium's] action. _He declared that Germany
had no intention of violating our neutrality_, but he
considered that by making a declaration publicly, Germany
would weaken her military preparation with respect to
France, and being reassured in the northern quarter would
direct her forces to the eastern quarter.[84]

[Footnote 84: Belgian _Gray Book_, enclosure No. 12.]

Germany's recognition of the continuing obligation of this treaty was
also shown when the question of Belgium's neutrality was suggested at
a debate in the Reichstag on April 29, 1913. In the course of that
debate a member of the Social Democratic Party said:

In Belgium the approach of a Franco-German war is viewed
with apprehension, because it is feared that Germany will
not respect Belgian neutrality.[85]

[Footnote 85: _Idem._]

Herr von Jagow, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
replied: "The neutrality of Belgium is determined by
international conventions, and Germany is resolved to
respect these conventions."

This declaration did not satisfy another member of the
Social Democratic Party. Herr von Jagow observed that he had
nothing to add to the clear statement which he had uttered
with reference to the relations