New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 18, 22 January 1915, Page 5

New Zealand

FRENCH UNIVERSITY MEN RE. PLY TO GERMAN PROTEST. Per Press Association. Auckland, January 21. The French Universities recently replied to a protest issued by ti-o German Universities against the accusations made with reference to their country in connection with tho war. A copy of the letter, which ; s addressed to the Universities of neutral countries, has been received by M. Julien Itigoreau, French Consul at Auckland. The only answer of tho French Universities, the document states, will take the form of a few of the following questions:— Who has brought about the war?

Who, during the short respite left to the deliberation of Europe, have tried their utmost to find conciliatory Formulas ?

Who, on the other hand, refused all means proposed in turn by England, Russia. France, and Italy? Who, at the precise moment whom the conflict seemed to be subsiding, has let loose the war just as if a propitious occasion had been expected and looked forward to? Who has violated the neutrality of Belgium, after having given a pledge to guarantee it?

Who declared that neutrality is but a. mere word; that treaties are vnly "scraps of paper," and that in a time of war it is every man for himself?

Who has disregarded the international conventions by -which the signatory Powers had pledged them-

selves not to use, in making war, Buy forcible means which might constitute a barbarity or a perfidy, and bound

themselves to respect historical buildings, religious, scientific, or charitable institutions, unless the enemy led the way to such destruction by using them first for military purposes? In what circumstances was the University of Louvain destroyed? Jn what circumstances was the Cathedral of Rheims burnt down?

In what circumstances were incendiary bombs dropped on the Church of Notre Dame de Paris?

Facts are sufficient answers to those questions. You can already ronsuit documents published by the Diplomatic Chancellors, the results of inquests held by neutral countries, the evidence found in German note-hooks and, furthermore, the testimony of the ruins in Belgium and France against them. It is no use, as the German -nen of science did, to give to these evidences a fiat denial, based only on their honor.

It is not sufficient to say, as the German Universities are doing: "You know our teaching; it cannot bring up a nation of barbarians." We know the value of this teaching, but wo have seen also how, breaking away from German traditions which brought forth vsuch men as Leibnitz, Kant, and Goethe, the German culture, which has been enslaved by Prussian militarism, and carried away by it, pretends to universal supremacy. There are countless proofs of this pretension. Quite recently a Professor of the Leip. zig University wrote: "All culture in Europe is for the future dependent on us."

j On their, part, the Universities of France have said that civilisation is not dependent on one nation alone, hut is derived from all nations and that culture and moral beauty is the result of ever-changing variety, and is dependent on the genius of all.countries. Like the Allies, the French Universities upon themselves the work of defending the liberty of the world."