The territory of neutral powers is inviolable.  Belligerents are forbidden to move troops or convoys of either munitions of war or supplies across the territory of a neutral power.  Great Britain, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy refused to sign it and did not sign it.  Russia was not represented.

MILITARISM.  There is one more subject which many people in this country have failed to understand, and that is the matter of militarism.  German militarism is supposed to be something dreadful, and many good people believe that it would be a great advance toward eternal peace if that militarism could be wiped out.  Well, now, let us see.

If Germany did not require every one of her sons to spend a year, or at most two years, in the army, and if she had not provided for all these men sufficient arms and accoutrements for immediate use in case of war, what would have happened when Russia entered her territory, or when France came on a like errand?

Any one who lives among enemies is expected to be sufficiently prepared to defend himself should they attack him, be he ever so peaceful.

At the time the United States of America was born there was no such thing as Germany.  Every country around it had a slice of it.  Napoleon took the larger western part of Germany as his property, England held Hanover, the former Kingdom of Poland held Saxony, Austria held Silesia, and so there was no Germany.  The Teutonic races had no home in which they could develop and live without interference by others.  To prevent such interference Germany of all nations needed an army; to prevent similar interference at sea England of all nations needed a navy.  That great British Navy bears precisely the same relation to the protection of Great Britain at sea which the German Army bears to the protection of Germany on land.

To sum up, what are the countries fighting for?  Russia for her enlargement; she has no grudge whatever against Germany except that it exists.  France for revenge; she has no grudge whatever against Germany except that she wants revenge for 1870.  What grudge has England against Germany, except that Germany has grown commercially, financially, and industrially to a position which threatens to crowd England into a second rank?  Jealousy appears to control the English attitude.

The position apparently assumed by England is best expressed by the King of England in his telegram to Prince Henry of Prussia, dated July 30, 1914: 

My Government is doing its utmost, suggesting to Russia and France to suspend further military preparations if Austria will consent to be satisfied with occupation of Belgrade and neighboring Servian territory as a hostage for satisfactory settlement of her demands, other countries meanwhile suspending their war preparations.  Trust William will use his great influence to induce Austria to accept this proposal, thus proving that Germany and England are working together to prevent what would be an international catastrophe.

On July 31, the very next day, Sir Edward Grey wrote the telegram, No. 111, (English “White Book,”) to the British Ambassador at Berlin, in which we find the following: