nd an especial fine of $75,000,000, for its "violation of
neutrality."

Were this episode not a tragedy, the sardonic humor, which caused the
German General Staff to impose this monstrous fine upon Belgium for
its "violation of neutrality," would have the tragi-comical aspects of
Bedlam. It recalls the fable of the wolf who complained that the lamb
was muddying the stream and when the lamb politely called the wolf's
attention to the fact that it stood lower down on the river side than
the wolf, the latter announced its intention to devour the lamb in
any event. Such is probably the intention of Prussia. If it prevail
Belgium as an independent State will cease to exist and it will be
mourned as Poland is. Like Poland, it may have a resurrection.

The war having thus commenced between Germany and Belgium, the brave
ruler of the latter country--"every inch a King"--addressed to the
King of England the following appeal:

Remembering the numerous proofs of your Majesty's friendship
and that of your predecessor, and the friendly attitude of
England in 1870 and the proof of friendship you have just
given us again, I make a supreme appeal to the diplomatic
intervention of your Majesty's Government to safeguard the
integrity of Belgium.[92]

[Footnote 92: Belgian _Gray Paper_, No. 25.]

In reply to that appeal, which no chivalrous nation could have
disregarded, Sir Edward Grey immediately, on August 4th, advised the
British Ambassador in Berlin as follows:

We hear that Germany has addressed a note to Belgian
Minister for Foreign Affairs stating that German Government
will be compelled to carry out, if necessary by force of
arms, the measures considered indispensable.

We are also informed that Belgian territory has been
violated at Gemmenich.

In these circumstances, and in view of the fact that Germany
declined to give the same assurance respecting Belgium as
France gave last week in reply to our request made
simultaneously at Berlin and Paris, we must repeat that
request, and ask that a satisfactory reply to it and to my
telegram of this morning be received here by 12 o'clock
to-night. If not, you are instructed to ask for your
passports, and to say that his Majesty's Government feel
bound to take all steps in their power to uphold the
neutrality of Belgium and the observance of a treaty to
which Germ