BELGIAN FEELING

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20995, 23 December 1939, Page 2

BELGIAN FEELING

SUPPORT FOR ALLIES ) - EXUBERANT DISPLAYS Though the vast majority of Bel- - gians congratulate themselves on . having so far been able to keep out i of the war, there is no mistaking which side their sympathies are on, wrote the Brussels correspondent of ' the Manchester Guardian on Octo- £ ber 23. The Press, with few excep- * tions, is definitely in favour of the " Allies. The audiences in cinemas and ~ theatres and at other performances “ oeize every occasion to demonstrate their feelings, which are particularly ~ strong in Wallonia and Brussels. Various local and district trade union organisations, with the metal workers of Charleroi and elsewhere, ■j have passed resolutions threatening to strike if asked to work to supply _ Germany. The other day there was _ a remarkably enthusiastic proe French demonstration at the Royal Park Theatre in Brussels when merne bers of the Comedie-Francaise per- ± formed a play, and there have been equally enthusiastic scenes at liter,t ary and scientific lectures given by Frenchmen. i A section of the press, especially e the Flemish, started a violent camo paign against these demonstrations. I, which were alleged to be dangerous d to Belgian neutrality, and demanded - repressive Government measures. The German Ambassador is also believed to have officially protested.

1 Warning to the Public 2 " The attachment to the right of free expression is so strong that the Government has so far recoiled from taking such measures. But today it was announced that the Foreign Minister, M. Spaak, will shortly broadcast a warning to the public to refrain from exuberant demonstrations in order not to counteract the Government’s neutrality policy. I underr stand that the French Government has been requested to discourage French lecturers and artists from coming to Belgium to address audiences. Other Belgians, however, feel that the public is already voluntarily restraining its expression of a sentiment which is very strong. An interesting indication of pubr lie feeling in Holland is provided by _ the anti-Nazi Antwerp paper, “La Metropole,” whose Dutch correspondent writes:— “ Do you think Germany will win this war? ” I put this question to personalities of all sections in Holland, both pro-German and proFrench and pro-British. The answer was invariably in the negative. The prevalent opinion in Holland is that Germany will lose the war, whatever else happens. The following reply of one politiT cal personality was typical of all: j “ The German prospects are bad bei cause what counts is the gigantic j consumption of materials, of which “ | Germany has no reserves and the j Allies have very large amounts. I Hitler would be wise to draw the ; consequences. Inexorable facts | should open his eyes.”