Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-09-07
EVERY LAW OF
NATIONS TORN
T0SMALLB BITS
BELGIAN DISCOURSES GERMAN AC-
INVITES IN BELGIUM FROM LEGAL
VIEWPOINT BEFORE AMERICAN
BAR ASSOCIATION YESTERDAY.
Relates Story of Three Years Of German
Violation OF Covenants OF The hagre
Convention During Teut0nic 0ccupan-
CIV Since the World War Started.

lation of the covenants of the Hague con
v~ention, during the Tentonic occupancy OF
Belgium since the world war began. was
told briefly yesterday by CASTOR de Leval
of the bar of Brussels. 10 members Of the
American Bar association, in convention
here.
MANY articles of the Hague convention,
when tested by the facts in Belgium with
the invaders applying their y interpre-
%ta,ionS. proved almost valuelesS.' Mr.. dc
Leval said.
The imposing fines. the punishment by
death and Imprisonment of Belgian men
and women and children unwarrantably
accused If treason and lesser crimes. and
the deportation of hi compatriotS into
slavery were discussed by Mr. de Ievai
from the legal viewpoint.
Notwithstanding "all the suffering~ and
tyranny to which the Belgian population
has been subjected" the speaker asserted.
the people are ~ patriotic now n when IN
the early period Of the war they ~temmed
the German flood ~ licge.
"No matter how much the Germans have
advertised their victories and how power
fully their military system has impressed
the Belgian population" he said. that
population i Just n hopeful n during the
first davS that the cause Of civilization
will triumph. and that tyranny will be-
crushed. because they know that right y
might. that right J. the only might. and
that the Lord has said Blessed are they
which hunger and thirst after righteous
ness. for they shall he filled
Mr.. lie Leval told how the Germans
tried to make capital of the q%uarrelS which
before the war had taken place between
the Flemish and Walloon elements If Bel
cium-the ones descendants of German,
tribes an dthe Others descendants ot the
Romans.
'Smce the very beginning they tthe Ger
man~l caioled the Flemish population" he
said. ''Thev tried 10 make IL believe that
Germany was helping their aspirations 2,
free III, m~elve~ Of the troublesome Wal
looms. Thew told them that. owing 10 the
German efforts. these Walloon and French
clements were IL be set aside and the
Flemish population emerge richer. frecr
with it own language IN the foreground.
But the people did moi listen 10 these
siren songs. So, the Germans added COM
pul~ion to persuasion. and by a new law
made one country of the Walloon~ and one
country OF the Flemish. hoping. Of course
that after the war the Flemish popula-
ton ~ any rate would be Il stepping stone
for Germany to further conquest.
But this separation i only on paper.
and i not and will never be completely
obtained. All the chiefs Of Belgian de-
partment~ have resigned rather than carry
out such instructions, and the Germans
who had. when they came into Belgium
promised that All agents of Tho Belgian
government continuing their duties would
always be- free. If they 80 desired. t. leave
prisons the chiefs Of those department.
who have carried out what their con
sciences told them was their duty"
Mr.. he Leval paid tribute IL America
aid a. hi country. and especially "a Brand
Nhiflnck. former minister ~ Belgium
Ills NAME he said Twill 20 down in his
tory" adding: IL know that ia no other
country II the world. - much ~ ii
America. in this country IT freedom and
Justice. de- the suiforings Of the Belgians
arouse sympathy. You have saved Bel
gium from starvation. and till the end vi
all time there will be ~ each village ~
Belgium Z memorial put M to remind fu.
ture generations that IL the Belgian rae,
has not died ont. honor for III prc~crya-
ton " due 10 the citizens at free and Gen.
erous America.
/ Mr. dc Leval paid ! tribute also IT, Car
dinal Mcrcier. who. he said. "~tood ~ M,
country like \ living flag of Belgium. lin,
Il religious king. and from I'LL the world NJ
received the homage due to hiS courae,
and genius The speaker said that on
place which remained sacred from lnva.
sion was the church. 10 which 1.-THE arm ol
the German law did not dare extend ia,
iron fist
Abiding to the Hague convention. Mr.
de Leval quoted Article -, which stale.
that the military authority when occupy.
inc an enemy country viii respect ia,
laws OF that country and make no chang,
unless there j. an "ah-olute npcr~~itv.'
''What is an absolute nece-~itv'o" Mr.
dc Leval continued. 'Unfortnnat.lv. ia.
Hague convention gives no definition IN,
the speeches of it, members throw littl.
light on the subject.
1.-THE Germans have given 10 'ahsolut,
necessity a wonderful extension. II 4 lny
is required by which u machine can N
taken out of Belgium 10 be used by n Ger
man manufacturer for no matter wha