The French Government protested on Aug. 18 to the Permanent Bureau of The Hague Court of Arbitration against the use of dumdum bullets by the Germans, producing proof obtained by surgeons that French soldiers had been killed or wounded by these bullets.  The German General Staff has countered this by alleging that it was the French and English who used the bullets, and the Imperial Chancellor has announced in fiery tones that in the presence of the example given by the English and French the German soldiers would henceforth use dumdum bullets; the responsibility for this procedure, which he himself describes as an act of cruelty and a violation of an international convention signed by Germany, will rest, he says, upon the powers of the Triple Entente.

By my Government’s orders I have the honor to protest in the most formal manner to the Danish Government against the lying German allegations.  French soldiers have never used dumdum bullets.  The French Government has never authorized, nor will authorize, its troops to use such barbarous means of warfare, whatever be the infringements of law and the cruelties committed by its adversaries.  The “Instructions for French Officers in Wartime” also lay down, and will continue to lay down, that they are to forbid their men to use bullets at variance with the stipulations of the Geneva and Hague conventions.

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[Illustration:  ALBERT, KING OF THE BELGIANS]

THE BELGIAN MISSION.

Officially Explained to President Wilson at the White House, Washington, Sept. 16.

His Majesty the King of the Belgians has appointed a special envoy for the purpose of acquainting the President of the United States of America with the deplorable state of affairs prevailing in Belgium, whose neutrality has been unjustly violated, and who since the beginning of hostilities has been the theatre of the worst outrages on the part of the invading German Army, in defiance of rules solemnized by international treaty and customs consecrated by public right and law of nations.

Mr. Henry Carton de Wiart, Minister of Justice, has been chosen for this mission.  He is accompanied by Messrs. de Sadeleer, Hymans, and Vandervelde, Ministers of State.  Count Louis Lichtervelde is attached to the mission as Secretary.

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[Illustration:  CARTON DE WIART, Minister of Justice, Spokesman of the Royal Belgian Commission to the United States.]

M. DE WIART’S ADDRESS.

Made to the President at the White House, Washington, Sept. 16.

Excellency:  His Majesty the King of the Belgians has charged us with a special mission to the President of the United States.

Let me say to you how much we feel ourselves honored to have been called upon to express the sentiments of our King and of our whole nation to the illustrious statesman whom the American people have called to the highest dignity of the Commonwealth.