Belgium

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 94, 17 November 1916, Page 5

Belgium

GERMANY'S SNTENTIONS. WHAT SHE WOULD LIKE. DEPENDENCY OF THE EMPJ^E. GERMAN PRINCE AS KING. PREPOSTEROUS PROPOSALS. WHAT MAY HAPPEN. Press Slssoaiation—Copyright, Atistr; lian and N.Z. Cable Association, (Received 11.5 a.m.) London, No v ember !6.

i A wireless message from Berne J states that despite secrecy concernrngj 'the deliberations of the Reichstag 'Committee, a considerable amount of 'the discussion on the proceedings lias, leaked out. It appears that Chancel-. 'lor von Bethmaun-Hollweg has not; committed the Government to a deli-1 jnita policy concerning Belgium. He ( outlined as a, possible settlement that Belgium must bo nominally independent but remain a German dependency. I 'King Albert must be deposed, being 'an implacable: enemy, who would' be perpetually a menace to the Belgians' desires. The King must bo a |German Prince. Other conditions include a perpetual offensive and defensive Belgo-German alliance, the maintenance of Belgian army of specified strength, a permanent Gerl'man military commission in Brussels, a commercial treaty in accordance to German dictates/ and the lease of two ports as German naval bases. Several speakers demanded the retention of Belgium as part of the Ger-1 man Empire, and none mentioned the possibility of being driven out of Bel*! ginm.

THE RECENT DEPORTATIONS. i i i if mi—aj GERMANY MAKES AN EXCUSE. BRITISH BLOCKADE BLAMED. Press Association—Copyngnt. Reuter's Telegrams (Received 9.35 a.m.) ' ; : ' Amsterdam, November 16. General yon Bussing, Governor-Gen-eral of Belgium, in an interview with the New Times' representative explained tjhat the deportation of Bel'- 1 gians was really the fault of the British in cutting off war materials and supplies, and prohibiting the export of produce, which, consequent on the unbearable conditions, necessitated the employing of Belgian workers in !Germany, which was no hardship for [Belgium.