Page:Diplomacy and the War (Andrassy 1921).djvu/125

 her own actions, and every party to the war expects the worst from his opponent and must necessarily do so in accordance with experience.

I do not know of a single nation which would have lost a war or waged one under much more difficult circumstances because she respected international law.

England has not always regarded the violation of Belgian neutrality as such an appalling breach as she does to-day. An English official, a military attaché, occupied himself not long ago with the question as to whether the neutrality of Belgium should not be violated against Belgium's wishes (1912). While England supported the Triple Alliance and regarded Russia as her enemy, Dilke (1887) asked what England would do if Germany should violate Belgian neutrality in a war against France. The Government press took up the point of view that this could not be avoided, and that England would have to content herself with securing Belgian neutrality and independence in the treaty of peace. Dilke summarized his experiences by saying that he realized that England was determined to get rid by any pretext of obligations which she had contracted.

In the present war, the breach of Belgian neutrality was not the only action which was legally questionable. Our enemies also violated international law. The neutrality of Greece and Corfu was not respected. The blockade of Central Europe was also an action that contravened international law. Nevertheless, I regard the invasion of Belgium as a great misfortune