The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-12
nY Ia MARauIsE DE roNTEN or.

q
> ING ALBERT OF Belgium may he
u said TO have inaugurated his
N reign auspiciously; for, although
barely four months have elapsed
since he succeeded to the throne. he
has already managed TO add to the
size and area of his kingdom. True,
the increase OF territory Is not very
great. Indeed, 1t probably does not
exceed a Thousand acres In extent. But
still the annexation by King Alber,
bigger. and at the same time marks
the disappearance from the map of
Europe of It's tiniest republic.
Moresnet. as an independent state.
dated from the treaty OF Aix-ia-
Chapelle, and is said to have been in.
debted for it's existence to either faul-
~ charts or else to ignorance and
carelessness in connection with the ne
gotiation of the treaty at the conclu-
sion of which 1T was found that SLIGO
OF territory bordering on the frontiers
OF Prussia had been overlooked. An
additional agreement was therefore
made, according TO the terms of which
Moresret was declared to be neutral.
and was later on placed under the joint
protectorate of Prussia and Belgium.
while the Inhabitants were authorized
to form a sort of republic.
The very existence OF the latter was
Ignored by the general public until a
few years ago, when Moresnet attract
ed good deal Of unenviable attention
to itself by taking advantage of its
independence as republic, to offer
refuge to the various owners Of public
gambling establishments who had been
driven out of Belgium. and In partic.
ular from the scene of their profit
able operations at Ostend, Spa and
Namlr, by the drastic laws enact
ed by Belgiums Parliament, despite
the opposition Of the late King Leo
pold. All arrangements were made
between the tiny republic and the
gambling establishment owners to con-
vert Moresnet into second Monta
Carlo. Hotels were erected, casinos
constructed and gardens laid out In the
most approved fashion. when, moved
by popular indignation, the govern
ments OF Prussia and of Belgium, as
the two suzerain powers. suddenly in
execution of these designs under the
threat OF driving out the gamblers
by force, not of troops. but OF German
and Belgian police.
Moresnet had no alternative but TO
| yield The anticlpations OF its people
I OF the advent of a golden era of pros
4 perity were rudely dlspelled, and the
| hotels ana casinos, which had been
! constructed for the accommodation OF
! gamblers from all parts of the world,
remain to this day unoccupied, falling
into decay sorry reminder to the
people of the erstwhile republic OF the
Ifutlity Of their dreams.
The negotiations between the Prus-
sian and Belgian governments made by
\ their Joint action to prevent Moresnet
! from developing into another Monte
| Carlo had the effect of leading to Z
discussion by these two powers MS g
| the policy OF the elimination OF the
little republic from among the inde-
pendent states of Europe.
Offering as 1T did refuge to or.
tenders against the civil and criminal
laws OF both countries, as, we'll as
point Of vantage for smugglers, II hac
become a source of much ,annoYanc'
and trouble to it's big neighbors, and {
solution of the problem arising frolt
the respective pretensions Of Prussia
4 and of Belgium to the TERRITORY hai
now been found In an agreement Wnere
by tho Kaiser, in return for sur
render OF Belgium's undeniable rlght
to strip of territory several thou
s sands OF square miles In extent IN tht
z Congo region, and which has been I'M
4 warrantably occupied by GERMANY rol
some time past, consents to the Kings
Incorporation of Moresnet In MS 90
minions, abandoning all Germnnys m
4 terests in the little republic,
i AS It's population does not eNceet
4 2,OON inhabitants, all told. 1t Is. doubt
ful whether any armed opposition VII
be offered by the people or Moresne
to their incorporation Into the king
A dom OF Belgium or II, like tho Beers
Athev Will consider 1t necessary 10 hsh