BELGIUM.
Letter to President Taft.
Brussels, January 20, 1909.
Mr. President—The Executive Committee of the Belgian Red Cross, at its meeting held on the 15th of December, 1908, decided by unanimous vote to send a congratulatory address to Mr. W. H. Taft, President of the American Red Cross, on the occasion of his election to the Presidency of the United States.
The Belgians rejoice to see therein the sanction, by the vote of millions of citizens, of their universally prevalent desire to have peace insured. The international work of Geneva is a symbol of the union of nations, and constitutes a most reliable guarantee of the maintenance of humane principles throughout the world.
The choice of your high personality, whose generous sentiments are well known, is for all a happy token of the great role which your country will take in future in the domain of charity.
Again have the American people given to the world a beautiful example of humane solidarity in preceding other nations in showing their generosity to the populations afflicted by the Calabrian cataclysm.
Be pleased to accept, Mr. President, the expressions of our highest consideration.
The President,
PRINCE DE LIGNE.
HON. WILLIAM H. TAFT.
President of the American National Red Cross.