The Washington times., 1914-08-23
7 UTURE OF BELGIUM
BEARS TRAGIC LOOK
Buffer Kingdom May Be Trad
Ing Stock of Nations in
Seace Negotiations.

- looks as if unhappy Belgium
y 7uld be made the trading stock of
q = German-Austrian alliance in the
r. 1ferences which are to come when
European war is over and the
sst nations undertake the business
O. rearranging the map.
Nothing could better illustrate the
1ir Justices and horrors of war than
tt e fate of Belgium. In supposed
IlS neutral position, war is bareC de-
Cl7red before her territory is invaded
| b. Germany. Heavy sacrifices of lige
a. property follow the efforts of the
neutrality. The government driven
+ Il om Brussels, the capital. an enor-
nous war tax is laid on the inhabi-
ts ! is of Brussels and on Liege.
But this is only a part of the trou-
BIZ for Belgium. For the present, the
pr dications are the GermansJwill over
|rl the country. They will then con-
II lue to try to hold it, even if beaten
Pr their object of trying to force a
" sy through to Paris.
Like Our Border States.
cess plays back and forth between the
a lies and the Germa>cs, Belgium .s al
n ost certain to be put in the position of
bS poruer States IN tne CIVIL war. Inc
|arnies of both contending forces will
trs nple back and forth over Belgian
Il ritory. Not merely her so(diery, but
h'r people will suffer from all the raw
aEes that follow in the wake of war.
ust at this time il looks much as il
|the Germans would not only spread over
Be igtum, but would keep possession of
4lt and would have control of the port
| o, Ostend. just across the channel from
L gland. 1t is, of course, true that the
a les might drive the Germans out of
Felgium by a successful offensive, bNt
tra chances are greater that if the Ger
r ms can seize the territory they can
10 fend IL.
suppose the war ends and peace
|CC Inference is held with tee German
q mics in control of Belgium and hold
|in : Ostend. On the other hand, suppose,
|as will probably happen, Germany is
|st ipped of her territories in Africa and
Il lima.
A Quid Pro Quo.
In such a situation, no particular inn
|sz.nation is required to foresee what
" ould happen. England dominated the
fo ma ton of the ring Of STEEL about
C many. England will in all prooa-
b lty dominate when il comes to the
pace conference.
Germany, il can hardly be supposed,
"a II retain Belgium, but it may also be
assumed, unless Germany is wholly
|c-Ished. that she will insist on some
|r=compense for giving up Belgium
|p ~oviding always her armies continue
IT, hold il. England cannot afford to
have Germany in possession of a port
e close TO London as Ostend. 1t may
|be expected that Germany will be given
certain compensation for getting out OF
Belgium and that she may be allowed to
k eep much. if not all. OF her territory
lin Africa.
The political results from the occupa-
ton of Belgium. therefore, are likely
TO be even more important than the
military results. 1t may well be that it
will be the instrument of causing the
map Of the world, when the war is over.
TO be little changed. Circumstances
II ay arise. too. which will throw Ho,-
IL nd into the scales when the peace
crnference comes. Germany thus far
|hzs not violated the territory of the
= Nntherlands, but that government is
li,tng in constant fear lest one or the
other of the combatants do so. If Hol
Is nd goes into the war. she will doubt
1e Sc 90 in against Germany. since to do
otherwise would expose her East Indian
possessions to capture by the Anglo
y = panese forces.