New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-27
International and Moral
Law Violated by Move to
Divide Country
ProvinceD ismembered
Plea Says Attempt Is Made to
Part Walloons and
Flemish

nav NJ aug. ~ 1 ne DclBAaH SoN
eminent has addressed a long and
earnest protest to allied and neutral
governments against German viola
tions of international and moral law
in the redistricting of Belgium so that il
will have two governments and two
capitals instead of one, and in de-
porting or arresting Belgian officials
who resigned their positions rather
than continue in Office under the new
regime.
The protest begins by the citation of
Article 43 of the fourth Hague conven-
ton. according TO which an occupying
power must, in so far as IL is possible,
govern occupied territory in conform
ity with the terrtory's own law. The
protest :ficn points out that this clause
vas violated by the Germans March,
1917, by a decree creating two admins
trativc regions with capitals at Brus-
sells and NGmur, and by DEGREES of
April 13 and June and 10 confirming
the execution Of the March pronuncia-
mento.
These DEGREES. says the protest, com
pletely overturn Belgian law and
gravely attack the Belgian constitu-
ton. which divides Belgium into prov
inces and places the capital at Brus-
sells.
Province Is Dismembered
"The German decrees," says the pro-
test, "sUperimpose divisions on prov
inces and on each division made up of
provinces in a manner that the con-
stitTtion does not recognize. They
Gismember enc Of the provinces and
put in it two capitals in place Of one.
THE measures have only the goal Of
serving German interests to the detri-
ment Of Belgium and creating a schism
between tie Belgians."
The protest then takes up the part
which Belgian officials remaining in
Belgium played in the administration
until Certain of them have felt it their
duty TO resign, so as 20 show the senti-
ments which animate the entire body
of Belgian functionarics."
The result OF these designations.
says the document. has been to subject
the country 10 new r:gors contrary to
human law. The German government
has denied them the right to refuse
their service and has arrested and de-
ported them 20 Germany, though when
they originally agreed to carry on
their normal functions il was under
the express stipulations that The
Hague tribunal conventions would be
RESPECTED.
Protests Against Separation
The protest concludes as follows:
"In tho presence Of systematic IA
grant violation OF international law by
the acts denounced above, the Belgian
government protests solemnly against
the administrative separation which
the occupying power is forcedly estab-
fishing in Belgium and against acts OF
violence to which functionaries are
subjected who exercise their incontest-
able righ. to refuse TO lend their hand
10 what they consider in justice as
abusive and unjustifable measures
The Belgian government denounces
this new violation OF human rights TO
the allied and neutral governments
who subscribed their signatures to the
convention concerning the laws and
customs Of war on earth"
Official announcement was made in
Germany June IA in connection with
the previously announced intention TO
rcdistrict Belgium, that Herr Schaibelc.
Baden official. had been made chief
Of the administration Of the Flemish
part Of Belgium. with residence in
brussels. and Herr Hsniel, Prussian.
chief Of the administration of the
"Walloon district" with residence in
Namur. Schaibele's jurisdiction was
10 extend to the provinces Of Antwerp,
limbourG. East and West Flanders and
the districts Of Brussels and Louvain,
and those of Haniel TO the provinces
Of Hainault, Liege, Luxembourg, Namur
and tn. district Of Nivelle..
Dispatches from Holland have an
nounced that the Germans were de-
porting all Belgian officials who re-
fused 10 recognize the splitting up of
the kingdom into Walloon and Flemish
sections.