The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-26
GREATER DANGER
THREATENS PEACE
Hollands Right to Build Forts
Is No Longer Of
Moment.
TROUBLE IN BELGIUM
Outbreaks Between Factions of
Country May Come at
Any Time.
ny PHILLIP EVERETT.

NJ t.taiLb1I' E;t EST~T.
Especial Cable to The Times Dispatch.I
London, February 25.--Thc question
OF whether Holland has the right to
build forts at Flushing no longer All.
tates the minds of European. states
men. Whose eyes have suddenly been
opened to far greater danger to the
Peace of Europe. Since the death OF
Ning Leopold of Belgium. the hatred
between the two nationalittes, which
constitute the population Of this arti.
icialiy created kingdom. the ELAN
landers. or tlemings. who speak Elem
ism, and the Walloons, whose language
is practically French dialect has
become more acute than ever. Since
1880, French is no longer the only
official language OF Belgium. as it was
before that time, the Flemings having
gradually obtained the right to use
their own language in the courts,
schools. and for administrative pur-
poses. The Walloons never seriously
DIRECTED. but when recently the Elem.
lngs demanded that the French Ian
Guage be abolished at the old coli
ieges of Belgium. the demand was met
with cry of indignation in the south
crn half Of the kingdom, and now the
whole country is on the verge of a
. '
European peace.
Demonstrations arc held daily ana
committee has been founded at Licca
to Investigate the means OF securing
separate government for the two war
ring sections
One feature Of this movement. how
ever. is the blindness OF the leaders
as to its obvious consequences. rhey
ciamor for administration separa-
ton, and yet believe otha, Belgium
Will remain one. y glance at tho his
tory of their own country would en-
tighten them on the point.
When Belgium was southern prov
ince or Holland, great dissatisfaction
was felt with the rule Of the House
OF Nassau, The use Of the French
language was discouraged tho Cath
clio clerEy's privileges were curiaiied
and finally, in 1880. the two hostile
parties. Liberals and Catholics. joined
hands against their Dutch oppressors
After the riots OF August. 1890, dele
gates were sent to Tho Hague to press
for administration separation" and
the release OF particular grievances
The idea Of political separation from
Holland does not seem TO have DC.
CURED to them, or TO their fellow.
citizens yet few months later Bel
GUM had proclaimed itself independ
ent and was recognized as such by tho
leading powers.
No doubt The circumstances ara nov
different No army would now attempt
TO occupy, Brussels or TO bonn bard Ant
Wcrp as was done eighty years ago,
and thus the last element -..ccasary
thoroughly to oXaspcratc public feel
ing would lie absent,
As TO the Catholic influence which
was the chief cause OF Belgiuln's sep
aratlon from Holland, the position IS
now almost exactly reversed Hair
Belgium il violently anti Catholic ana
the other half would find union with
Holland all the easier, in view Of the
fact that Roman Catholics in Holland
have very largely gained both in num-
bers and influence
There remains the treaty of 1889
Would the powers who guaranteed
the Neutrality Of Belgium be likely
to approve of its disappearance from
the map? Would France like to have
an extended frontier opening into Ger
many? Would England like the
Schcidt to fall unqucsioned into Dutch
Germanophile hands? Mould Germany
care TO lose her coveted prey:
Nobody can tell what Is going 10
happen unless King Albert's earnest
efforts to make his warning subjects
see that if they forgot their nationa!
I!ioi W. y mon rs ISlIcDB III, tIclb
country will surely share the fate OF
Poland and be divided between France
Germany and perhaps Holland. prob
ably after terrible European war.
which in bloodshed would surpass any
struggle the world has ever witnessed
It is perhaps no cXagGcration 10 say
that Europe is almost as vitality in
tercsted In the fate Of the reciprocity
Nat he -,,i cd
Canada as are the ,wo countries them-
SelTes Columns and cnluInnS Of arit.