The Days of a Man 1914 



should lay her case before the world by publishing 

 it in every European language and scattering it 

 broadcast. Sir John reported the suggestion to Grey; 

 the book was at once translated into French, Ger- 

 man, Dutch, and Danish, and given wide circulation. 

 That it dealt with all relevant matters may now be 

 questioned, but from certain crushing facts Germany 

 Taking could not escape. The conflict was begun by the 

 the odium mv a s ion of a neutral country protected by "only 

 a paper bulwark," the military leaders (as Professor 

 Hans Delbriick admitted) choosing to take "the 

 odium" of v forcing the war rather than to lose the 

 advantage of first attack. Whatever we may think 

 of diplomatic evasion on any side, the one tre- 

 mendous criminal act remains. 



Another feature of British policy interested me 

 personally. Soon after the destruction of Louvain, 

 the Cabinet promised to lend ten million pounds 

 sterling to Belgium at current rates of interest. 

 This information was received with alarm by Senator 

 La Fontaine, then a refugee in London. He and his 

 associates felt that "signing bonds and pledging 

 interest to the British Government" would be very 

 disheartening to the scattered and outraged Belgians. 

 Indeed, it might furnish a strong impetus toward 

 yielding to Germany. Having brought this view of 

 the case to the attention of Gardiner and some other 

 Liberals, I offered the suggestion, natural under the 

 circumstances and doubtless made by others, that 

 A gift, not the transaction be a gift, not a loan. I was soon after 

 informed that no bonds would be required, while the 

 money would be advanced only when needed, so as not 

 to permit the invaders to levy on it for they were 

 at that time seizing all available coin in Belgian banks. 

 C 642 3 



