New Britain herald., 1916-04-06
VON BISS|NG DEAF
 ID FLEMISH APPEAL.
Insists Germans Will Take Over
 University al Ghent

Correspondence of The Associated Press.l
 The Hague, Netherlands, March 13.-The latest development in pro- Flemish schemes of the Germans in Belgium is long letter from Baron Won BiSsinG, the German governor general refusing to renOunce his plan of converting the University of Cihent into a Flemish university, all though requested to do so by group Of Well-knOWn leaders of the Flemish movement themselves.
 A number of leading Flemings of Antwerp, realizing how their cause might be set back after the war by the present intervention of the Ger mans in it's favor. recently petitiOned thegOvernOr general to leave the solu- ton of this question to the Belgians themselves, putting forward various reasons of political and moral nature why he should give up the scheme re- garding Ghent University. Among the signatOrs of this petition were Louis Franck, president of the ln- tercommunal commission of Antwerp. member of the Belgian Cham Der, and one of the draftorS and prOpOsers of the bill to give the Ghent University a Flemish basis: Jan Devos, mayor
 
 Leo Van Peborgh, pro-IElemish mem- bers of the Senate, and others.
 The petition was viewed with dis appointment and displeasure by the Sovernor-general whose reply de- clared that preparations for system atically carrying out the reform of Ghent University have already begun, and that "the objections raised are not of such a nature as to give ground for my going back on my de- cjsion."
 Von Bissing's Reasons.
 "I attach" he continues, "tOO much Z-alue to the material and moral task Of higher education and the unlVer- sites to share in your opinion that the benefits of such education might be withheld for a long period vet from the rising generation of the occupied country without inhicting' great harm upon it.
 'There is no single reason for you to speak of my resolve as a super fiuous gift that the Flemings might rot accept at German hands. Like wise, your opinion that the question of the Ghent University is one of purely internal Belgian policy, in which the occupying power is not
  actually nor legally justifable. You know very well that in peace time, in contrast to the French, Germany has always avoided mixing itself up in these matters. So much the less can I allow that the governing and administrative rights which Ger many, as occupying power now has m Belgium, with regard also to higher education, be restricted in any way.
 Neither can the normal objections raised by you stand a close inquiry. Whoever opposes the reform ordered hy me is aiming a blow at a vital in terest of the Netherlands race in Belgium, without thereby in the least benefitting the Belgian state. As is we'll known to you, this is recOg nized in a wide circle among the FlemingS, who have no thought Of approving the stand taken by you. Whether the difficulty or practical impossibility of carrying out the scheme which you indicate is a fact, time will show. Your assertion that the conceptions regarding BeIgium's international relations entertained by all WalloOns and Flemish are the same is clearly incorrect. It cannot uctFo tSCdpou your llOllcC tna1 It IS precisely in this respect that consider able difference of view has come to light and still exists.
 Can't Permit Politics. 'I cannot permit that the hostility of one or two persons to making Ghent University Flemish, exhibited in your petition, shall be extended into a political propaganda. Espec- ltlly should 1 have to take the severest action against any attempt to restrain professors and students from aiding or participating in this york;
 Dutch and Belgian authorities on International law dispute the con- stitutiOnal right of the Germans to intervene in the internal affairs of a temporarily occupied country, as 1 opposed to the spirit and letter of the Hague Convention of 1907 relating to the laws and usages of land warfare. As a matter of fact, however, most Belgians are quite indisposed to make themselves seriously anxious about the execution of Baron Won Bissngs plan. It is in one sense an l easy matter to open Flemish uni vGrsity but university must have { just where the rub comes. Never 1 theleSS, continued efforts are being | made both in Belgium and Holland