GERMANISED BELGIUM.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 18 November 1916, Page 3

GERMANISED BELGIUM.

I INDEPENDENT PART OF THE EMPIRE. - j WITH A GERMAN KING. I - LONDON, Nov 10. I It is reported from Berne that, de- | spite the secrecy concerning the proceedings of the Reichstag Committee ! that discussed the future of Belgium, '■ details have been made known. There | was considerable discussion over the j matter. I Hern Bethmann-Hollwcg, the Chancellor, did not commit the Government to ! a definite policy in Belgium, but out- | lined whati might be a possible settlement. Belgium, he said, must be nom- ! inally independent, but remain a Gcrj man dependency. King Albert must be deposed,, as he was an implacable en- * emy, and would be a perpetual menace, i If the Belgians desired a King he must Ibo a German Prince. Other conditions ] included a perpetual offensive and dej fensiva Belgo-German alliance; the i maintenance of a Belgian army of a 'specified strength; a permanent German military commission at Brussels; a commercial treaty in accordance with German dictates; and the lease of two ports as German naval bases. Several speakers demanded the retention of Belgium as part of the German Empire. No one mentioned the possibility of the Germans being driven out of Belgium.