NAZIS AND BELGIUM

Evening Star, Issue 23680, 13 September 1940, Page 8

NAZIS AND BELGIUM

TIGHTEXIKC THE CHIP REIGN OF TERROR BEGINS USE GF THE FLEMINGS The Nazis in Belgium did not take long to change over from the-policy of the kid glove to that of the mailed fist, wrote a Belgian correspondent in the ‘ Manchester ’ Guardian ’ on July IT. Their comparatively mild behaviour during the first weeks of the occupation was probably due to their being too busy elsewhere, to tboir desire not to frighten the hundreds of thousands of Belgian soldiers and refugees in France from returning borne, and possibly to their hope of their being able to use King Leopold as a shield for their own internal policy. Tlie Retain Government saw to it that the Belgians in Franco, both soldiers and civilians, were sent expeditiously back to their country. _ As to King Leopold, his present behaviour does not seem to come up to German expectations, for, considering himself as a prisoner, lie has so far refrained from any public act that might have been calculated to lend the support of his name and authority to the rule of the invader. In these circumstances the Nazis see no reason to delay any longer the starting of that loign of repression and terror which . has undoubtedly always been part of their plan for Belgium. The tools they employ are, needless to say, those Flemish Separatists and other Fascist elements who bad for years been undermining the unity of the country and often deliberately preparing the way for the foreign invader. MANY ARRESTS MADE. The new policy began with the arrest of a large number of persons obnoxious to the Flemish and Bexist Fascists. A few days ago the German wireless announced the arrest of the former Supreme Military Judge, M. Gunshot Van dor Meerscb, of the former Director of Police, M.'de Foy, and of five other high police officials for the alleged “ abduction of thousands of persons from Belgian sovereign territory after May ID.” The Belgian public are being brazenly told that the people are fast becoming indignant at the slowness with which the “ criminals ” who handed good fascist “ patriots ” over to French prisons are receiving their just punishment. A pro-German lawyer at Bruges claims to have discovered that the arrests of Flemings,” in reality notorious “ fifth columnists,” after the invasion were made hy the Belgian Government on the basis of black lists prepared in advance. While the Roxists are for the time being kept in the background, the Germans have already begun with all the unscrupnlousness and resourcefulness of the Goebbcls propaganda to play the Flemish Nationalist and racial card. This propaganda reveals not only the present methods but also the ultimate aims of Nazi Germany as regard the future of Belgium. “ OPPRESSED BY FRANCE.” Flanders is represented as a country that has "up to the present been oppressed by the French, either directly or through the instrumentality of Belgian tools of France. Now Hitler has liberated tlie Flemings, who are described as the most western representatives of Germanism. The Belgian State, it is argued, is a purely artificial creation, and the sway of Habsbni’g emperors over Belgium in bygone centuries is adduced as proof to show that German territory in the past extended to the Channel ports. With these dark prospects for the future, next Sunday, which is Belgian Independence Day, promises to be sad indeed for the Belgian people. It tyas on that day in 1831 that the first King of reborn, free, and independent Belgium solemnly started his reign, and the anniversary has ever since been the occasion of great official and popular manifestations of Belgian independence and unity. The new German masters have, of course, no use for Belgian independence or'for Belgian unity. Under their rule an attempt has already been made to turn another of Belgium’s historic anniversaries. that of the Battle of Courtrai, of July 11, 1302. the so-called Battle of the Golden Spurs, into an anti-French and anti-Belgian manifestation. That was the spirit in which the Flemish extremists bad for some time past been vainly trying to falsify the moaning of an event which was in reality a decisive victory of the Belgian middle classes, both Flemish and Walloon, over the aristocracy and a first step towards the creation of a more liberal and united Belgian State. In a word, the very opposite of the Nazi plans and spirit. ANTI-BELGIAN SPIRIT. This July 11, however, the Flemish extremists received.the full support and 'encouragement of the German occupation authorities for commemorating the

Battle of the Golden Spurs in that antiBelgian spirit. Public demonstrations were organised in many cities, including Brussels, the climax, it is claimed, being reached at Antwerp when the notorious Bonus, condemned to death for having during the last war presided over the Gorman-made Council of Flanders, unexpectedly appeared on the scene, having been brought back from a prison in France. As regards the position of the Piorlot Government, which was last reported to be stationed near Bordeaux, in unoccupied France, there is no fresh reliable news at hand. It is, however, of interest that a Moscow broadcast in Russian last Monday quoted the Belgian paper ‘ Lc Soir’’ as saying that the Prime Minister. M. Pierlot, intends to return to Belgium. He has informed King Leopold of his intention, and King Leopold is reported to object. ‘ Le Soir ’ protests against the return of the Pierlot Government. Thus the Moscow broadcast for internal Russian consumption. It all sounds rather complicated and obscure. MUST BE CLEARED UP. In any case, the position of the Pierlot Government will have to be cleared up very soon, for the present uncertainty cannot be prolonged without undesirable results ensuing from the diplomatic point of view'. Neutral Powers as well as Great Britain and her Allies will want to know who is entitled to speak for free Belgium and whore resides the official authority able to give a lead to Belgians abroad and to husband and mobilise Belgian resources in the Congo and elsewhere. If, as is being suggested, M. Pierlot and certain of his colleagues decide to return to Belgium they would forfeit any claim to represent free Belgians and free Belgium, even if the Gormans permitted them to call themselves a Government of a sort, which is very doubtful. But there is still a feeble chance of some of the members of the Pierlot Cabinet coming to London. _ The constitution of a Belgian National Committee hero appears to he being delayed just a little while longer so as to leave that last chance open to M. Pierlot and his colleagues.