BELGIUM'S FUTURE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3096, 29 May 1917, Page 5

BELGIUM'S FUTURE

THE HUN'S "TESTAMENT."

: A remarkable document about the future relations of Germany :iiid Belgium, purporting to be the "political testament" of General von Bissing, tho tyrannical miliiary'goverJior of Belgium, ■who died recently, is published in tho GeTman newspapers received in Amsterdam:; ' . "Belgium," it says, "must be added to the German Empire as a conquered State. Germany must fight on until peace in iron at the. point of the sword. ' The present war has'sEown tfiat the possession of the industrial region of Belgium is a necessity, for it lias shown that the conduct of the war is only, possible if Gennany holds dependable territory west of the Rhine. The Belgian' industrial region is not only of great value in timo of peace, but in war time it is absolutely necessary in' order to prevent Belßian industries being placed at the disposal of tho foes of Germany."

General von Bissinjr condemned the idea of making the future German frontior in Belgium run from Liege to Namur. "The frontier,"' says his political testament, "must bo pushed to tho sea coast. ■■ .If' Germany .lost Antwerp it would lose tho etrung influence that .Antwerp exercises ou South America. Our only policy is to onsnro that the present hostile population will gradually become, accustomed to and content with German rule. Anything less than annexation will stamp Germany before the ■world as-a-weakling,■ lessen her great Balkan successes, harm her reputation in.Turkey and in the wlible Mohammedan world. It is mere phrase-making to talk of tUo future Germany as an empire of Slates, eacli having homo rule. Germany must remain (jjcrraan, and when wo take into our sphere of might a country which is permeated by a German stock ■we must seo that tho German spirit overcomes, tho enemy and becomes acclimatised. During the peace negotiations we' must avoid giving any indication as to how the , country will be added to Germany, and allow the right of conquest to be our only guide. Wo must for years preserve tho present system of dictatorship."