BELGIAN POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 February 1924, Page 2

BELGIAN POLITICS.

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THE -MINISTRY DEFEATED. [ny TELEOIIAI’H —HF.lt CKFSS ASSOCIATION.] BRUSSELS. Feb. '27. The Belgian Chamber rejected hv 93 to 7!) votes, a Bill emboding a FrancoBelgian economic convention. The Premier, Al. Theuuis, announced that he would tesign. as the Government made thi- Bill a matter of confidence. LONDON, Feb. 28. The Theuuis .Ministry of Belgium has been defeated. The fall is regretted in London, because AL Theuuis consistently has laboured to conciliate Anglo-French difficulties. It is regretted also in Paris, because it is feared that it may be followed hv a ministry unwilling to continue tlie post Frnnro-Belgian policy * in the Ruhr. The Belgian Socialists do not disguise their opposition to a continuance of the occupation. They desire an international conference in connection with the reparations. The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent- expresses the opinion that the Theuuis defeat has not solely keen detremined by the economic issue, hut has reflected a marked dissatisfaction with the Belgian Cabinet’s recent domestic and foreign policy. It would he nearly true to attribute it to the fall of the franc. Al . Theuuis was originally summoned to office he says, not because he was a politician, hut because lie was a hanker. A cry has latterly been heard of •What is the use of an expert whose policy has caused the franc to decline ?” DEFEAT ON TARIFF BILL. LONDON. Feb. 2S. Al. Theunis’s Franeo-Belgian Convention was heatedly debated tov thteo weeks. The Socialists led by M. \ aiidervelder opposed its ratification strenuously. They were assisted by a number of the Liberals and Catholic. The Convention fixed a tariff for 400 classes of goods from Germany. If Belgium wished to change her tariff in favour of Germany after 1925, when Germany’s fiscal freedom will he tos Hired, -he would have to obtain France's permission, and to offer France compensating advantages. The Opposition.contended this meant that Belgium had abdicated her economic liberty in favour of France, which was socking a monopoly of tho Belgian market for French products, as Franco was a country with high tariff, and Belgium was one with a low tariff, Froiicc would hold a leverage. On the other hand, the French opinion is that the Convention would have benofitted Belgium. The French view is that the real reason for the defeat must lie sought in other causes.