BELGIUM.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1916, Page 5

BELGIUM.

THE DEPORTATIONS. BRITAIN BI.AMED BY GERMAN . GOVERNOR. Amsterdam, Nov. 16. General von Biasing, Governor-General of Belgium, in an Interview with a representative of the New York Times, explained that tlie deportation of Belgians was redly the fault of the British for cutting off -,var materials and supplies and prohibiting the export of produce. In consequence, the unbearablo conditions necessitated the employment of Belgian workers in Germany, a step which entailed no hardship on the Belgians. Received Nov. 17, 10 p.m. London, Nov. 17. A wireless message from Amsterdam states that despite Cardinal Mtcier's protest the deportation of Belgian civiliar.s continues, especially railwaytnen. Five trainloads of deportees traverse* tin; frontier stations daily, and include lawyers, teachers, clergy, peasants and laborers.

FUTURE OF BELGIUM. BEING SETTLED BY THE GERMANS. London, Nov. 10. A Berne \Vircless message says that, despite the secrecy of the Reichstag Committee, there is considerable discussion on the pioceedings. Hcrr von Betl'-mann-Holhveg did not commit the Government to a definite policy with regard to Belgi.un, but outlined a possible settlement. Belgium must, lie said, be nominally independent, but remain a German dependency. King Albert must be deposed; being an implacable enemy he would be a perpetual menace. If the Belgians desired a king he must be a German prime. Other conditions were a perpetual offensive and defensive Belgo-ficrman alliance, the maintenance of the Belgian army at a specified strength, a permanent German military commission m 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, and none mentioned the possibility of the Germans being driven oi.t of Belgium.