New-York tribune., 1901-12-15
NEUTRAL MORESNET.
THE SMALLEST EUROPEAN STATE
WIPED OFF THE MAP.

dN1S------o
German town Of Eupen. will result in blotting
out Of the map the smallest of European States
More diminutive even than the principahty OF
Monaco than the republics OF San Marino and
Andorra Moresnet or as the Germans term II.
Altenberg. is situated at the connnes OF bei-
gium Holland and Germany.
Moresnet although not a nation in the usual
acceptation of the word. and though placed
under the collective rule of Prussia and Bel
GUM is not nevertheless. governed by mere
condorniniurn. It cannot be placed in any recog-
nized category Of neutral States, such as SWitz-
eriand. Belgium. Monaco, Andorra. San Marino
and other States IN this respect Moresnet
holds unique position, and the only possloie
definition of its status is that it is provisional
and an accidental neutral State. The territory
of Moresnet owes its existence alike to the
ohscurity in the wording of diplomatic docu-
uaent and to the inaccuracy Of map; It's lease
of life seemed destined to be a short one, ana
vet IL dates from 1915 and all previous at
ternpts made 10 suppress it have been futile
In Article XXV of the Treaty Of Vienna, OF
June 10 1915 1t was stipulated relative To the
prDsso-Dutth frontier that in the former de-
partment Of the Ourthe the five cantons OF
ST. With. Malmedy. Cronenbourg, Shleiden and
Fupeu. together with portion of the Canton OF
Aubel. should belong to Prussia; the new from
Tier WAS TO follow the boundaries of the cantons
fn sucb a manner that a line drawn from south
10 north should cut the extreme END OF the
Canton Of Aubel, and be prolonged as far as 'he
point CT contact of the three former departments
Of tie Ourthe, the Lower Meuse and the hoer-
As the Dutch and Prussian commissioners were
unable 10 reach agreement concerning inc
exact meaning CT this article after seVerai
months Of negotiations the subject, II was
decided 10 postpone the final settlement of the
seed at
Chapelle in juno 1916, the present regime was
agreed m. After the revolution Of 1880 and the
independence Of Belgium, the Dutch rights upon
Mosesnot were ceded to Belgium
When the territorial limits of Moresnet had
neen fixed by the convention Of Aix-la-Chapele'
q suitable form OF government Tor the heu'i"4
district was arranged. 1t was decloeo 'hat 'iie
territory should depend neither dlrectlE upoil
Belgium nor Prussia. but that the sovereignty
Of these two States should be exercised JolnuE-
This sovereignty was delegated TO two colillilis
sioners whose powers are similar TO lhose VI
+be denartment prefects in France The munic-
ipality Of Moresnet has communal govern
ment. at the head of which is a Mayor or
Rouremestre as he is called, chosen alternative
" bv Belgium and by Prussia. There are, be-
eides two deputv mayors and a town council
consisting of ten members. appointed by the
commissioners upon the Mayors nomination
The YEARLY budget of Moresnet amounts 10
Q 735 francs. This sum has never varied since
1915. Prussia and Belgium. neither OF whlch
has ever allotted any subsidy TO the govern
noen+ of the neutral territory. divide this sum
equally between them. 1t is, therefore, enufelS
bv -,uniciuaI taxes that the expenses of ad-
ministering Moresnet are betrayed 1here are
five OF these taxes-an income tax, a parish tax
on all the inhabitants belonging to the Roman
and
tax on dogs used as beasts Of burden. The fifth
and most important tax is levied on the Niellle-
Montagne Joint stock company, which has a
MONOPOLY for working the caamin mines.
AS for the nationality of the inhabitants OF
Noresnet it was arranged by the convention OF
1916 that they should be neither Prussians nor
Dutch This question of nationality was TO nave
been settled az q later date. It has, however
remained open ever since. Legally the inhabi-
tants are neither Prussians nor Belgians- The
question was of small importance, at the outset,
for the population of Moresnet was only two hun
dred and fifty inhabitants But since then the
population Of the territory has increased rapidly
owing TO the development of mining interests,
which has necessitated the employment or a
larger and larger number of laborers, and also
because military service does not exist in Mores-
net. which fact has attracted many Germans to
the country. Finally, by agreement made by
Prussia. Belgium and Holland il was DECIDED
that after the year 1874 only the original in
habitants of Moresnet and their descendants
should be considered as citizens of the neutral
territory. while the immigrants and their de
scendants have since then retained their own
nationality. The present population Of the ter
rftory is 3.03S inha bitants. namely: $50 Prus-
slams, 91S Belgians. 30S Dutch and 49, natives
They speak German Plattdeutsch, Flemish
French and walloon.
The entire Code Napoleon has been maintained
in Moresnet, the judiciary administration Of the
territory being divided between Belgium and
Prussia Civil and criminal cases are in the
--5e1 Ia han or
cases being within the jurisdiction Of the Court
of Appeals Liege. Public instruction is not
compulsory in Moresnet, and is under the direc-
ton Of a committee OF six members. There are
TWO schools both Of which are managed by the
VieiIle Montague stock company Roman Ca
tholicisn is the prevailing religion. The neutral
territory being formerly dependent upon the
Belgian parish of Moresnet. is placed under the
jurisdiction of the Bishop Of Liese- The parish
priest IS paid by the municipality. and the vicar
by the Vielle Montague company.
There is no special coinage in Moresnet. the
coins Of Prussia, Holland. Belgium and Of the
Latin monetary union being current belgian
and German merchandise are exempt from all
import duties eatering The territory Of
Moresnet.
cession of Moresnet TO Belgium. 1t should be
stated that though majority OF the territory s
tnhabi are OF German origin, the people OF
Moresnet would prefer 10 be annexed to BEL
eiurl rather than to Germany, and this, because
they fully realize that they would enjoy greater
amount OF freedom as subjects OF KING Leopolo
than under the rule of Prussia's military despot-
ism
come sovereign State in the same manner as
Andorrs San Marino Or Monaco? Some author
ities have answered this question by stating
that the small number Of lnhabltants an6 .i3T
diversity of races were insurmountable obsta-
cles TO the establishment of an Independent
state Tt is doubtful, however. If these reasons
can be accepted as conclusive. The truth Is that
a territory of such small dimensions must. In
order to become a sovereign State, evolve ana De
s.~,elone6 nnder natural conditions and be
nal