have seen some of them, [laughter,] wretched, crinkled, scrawled over, blotched, frowsy, and yet those wretched little scraps of paper move great ships laden with thousands of tons of precious cargo from one end of the world to the other. [Applause.] What is the motive power behind them?  The honor of commercial men. [Applause.] Treaties are the currency of international statesmanship. [Applause.] Let us be fair—­German merchants, German traders, have the reputation of being as upright and straightforward as any traders in the world, ["Hear, hear”] but if the currency of German commerce is to be debased to the level of that of her statesmanship, no trader from Shanghai to Valparaiso will ever look at a German signature again. [Loud applause.] This doctrine of the scrap of paper, this doctrine which is proclaimed by Bernhardi, that treaties only bind a nation as long as it is to its interest, goes under the root of all public law.  It is the straight road to barbarism. ["Hear, hear!”] It is as if you were to remove the magnetic pole because it was in the way of a German cruiser. [Laughter.] The whole navigation of the seas would become dangerous, difficult, and impossible; and the whole machinery of civilization will break down if this doctrine wins in this war. ["Hear, hear!”] We are fighting against barbarism, [applause,] and there is only one way of putting it right.  If there are nations that say they will only respect treaties when it is to their interest to do so, we must make it to their interest to do so for the future. [Applause.]

Germany’s Perjury.

What is their defense?  Consider the interview which took place between our Ambassador and the great German officials.  When their attention was called to this treaty to which they were parties, they said:  “We cannot help that.  Rapidity of action is the great German asset.”  There is a greater asset for a nation than rapidity of action, and that is honest dealing. [Loud applause.] What are Germany’s excuses?  She says Belgium was plotting against her; Belgium was engaged in a great conspiracy with Britain and France to attack her.  Not merely is it not true, but Germany knows it is not true. ["Hear, hear!”] What is her other excuse.  That France meant to invade Germany through Belgium.  That is absolutely untrue. ["Hear, hear!”] France offered Belgium five army corps to defend her if she were attacked.  Belgium said:  “I do not require them; I have the word of the Kaiser.  Shall Caesar send a lie?” [Laughter and applause.] All these tales about conspiracy have been vamped up since.  A great nation ought to be ashamed to behave like a fraudulent bankrupt, perjuring its way through its obligations. ["Hear, hear!”] What she says is not true.  She has deliberately broken this treaty, and we were in honor bound to stand by it. [Applause.]

Belgium’s “Crime.”