Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-09-15
NO MANS LAND INDEED.
Moresnet, q Queerer Territory than
San Marino, Monaco, or Andorra.

San Marino, Monaco, or Andorra.
The last annual report of the Berne
Geographical society contains an inter.
esting paper on the territory OF
Moresnet. This territory, with pop.
ulation of from 1880 to 5000 inhabi-
tants, and very important, on account
of its mines of zinc, formed part,
under the first republic and the empire,
of the French department of Ourthe.
1t belonged to the canton of Aubel.
AT the congress of Vienna, when it
became question Of dividing among
the conquerers this corner of the
French empire, one part of the canton
of Aubel, the territory of the Moresnet,
was forgotten, and when the commits
siOners wished to trace the frontiers of
their respective countries they found
that it had been allotted neither to
Prussia nor the low countries. AS
each state refused to yield, it was
agreed, June -25, 1915, that while
awaiting a decision between the two
governments, a decision that has not
yet been given, the disputed territory
should be remitted to a common ad-
ministratiOn. and could not be occupi-
ed militarily by either of the two pow
ers. The existence of the mines
is what has given rise to the present
situation of the neutral territory; it
was, in fact, impossible to divide their
working, and neither of the copartners
wished to abandon its share to the
other. About 400 of the present in
habitants are descended from the orig
inal population, and on this account
they are not liable to any military
service. The other inhabitants enjoy
ed this immunity till 1854, when the
Belgian governor summoned his coun-
trymen to their colors. Russia did
the same in 1874, so that one of the
chief immunities of the neutral terri
tory is gradually disappearing. There
still remain few others. however,
which are not to be despised. The
neutral territory pays to-day the same
duties as in 1914, when it ceased to be
French, viz, a total sum of 1892
francs for land tax, 335 francs for
personal tax and 1,008 francs for tax
on patents. The produce of these i'm
posts is divided in equal parts between
Prussia and Belgium. To these small
contributions are to be added the COM
munal taxes, which vary according
to the requirements of the community,
and which are collected by the COM
munal receiver of neutral MOresnet.
Belgian and Prussian goods are exempt
from import duties, though they can
not be reexported to Belgium and Prus-
sia without paying the duties of these
countries on foreign goods. In its
spiritual affairs the neutral territory,
like the formal dependency of Belgian
Moresnet, IS under the jurisdiction of
the bishop of Liege. 1t possesses a
branch of the Belgian railways, which
connects it with Montjoie and serves
to transport its minerals. Since the
existence of this neutral territory all
its civil and criminal affairs are, at
the demand of the pursuer or plaintiff,
taken indifferently before the Prussian
or Belgian tribunals. The executive
power is delegated by the two gov
ernments to the local authorities. A
burgomaster nominated by two COM
missioners belgian and Prussian), is
at the head of civil affairs and of the
judicial police; with him is associated
a communal council, a school commit
tee, and charity bureau. The neutral
territory is governed by the Code Ma
poleon, as it existed in 1914. Both
Prussian and Belgian notaries and law
officers may perform their duties in the
territory. 1t possesses five schools,
and it's pupils have the right of attend
ing the school of Prussian Moresnet.
Thus the neutral territory of Mo, esnet
possesses all the advantages of indie
pendence without having any of the
burdens of its two neighbors, Prussia
and Belgium, being able to accord
almost gratuitously to its inhabitants
all possible favors, only asking from
them the moderate sum of 2,735 francs
per annum, scarcely franc a head.
How long will this peculiar situation
last? 1t is not easy to see how it can
be brought to conclusion, unless, in.
deed, it suited certain Russian prince
to want the territory. But, unless,
for strategical reasons, if its zinc mines
were exhausted it would not be worth
having.