The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-03-02
The German Plot In Belgium

Germany is now engaged in an art
full effort to seduce Belgium from the
cause of the Allies Ever since she
conquered that unhappy land she has
been al work trying to create ulFl-
sion between the Fleming and the
Walloon population. for the purpose
Of beng in d position TO say, When
that l0nged-for peace conference be-
gins, that the Flemings come under
the head of the selt-determination
of nations" The Flemings and
WalloonS got along well enough to-
gct her in The years preceding l9l4,
but as soon as Germany took posses
sion of the land she discovered that
there was a deep chasm between
them which could be bridged only by
the self-determination of the FIem-
ings. AS the unsupported pToduc-
ton at the peace conference OF such a
ridiculous invention would excite on
, ly mirth. Germany must also pro
duce a few facts, and as these facts
do not exist. she has been busy try
ing TO create them. In other words,
/ the conqueror has been trying to
create Il Flemish or anti-Walloon
movement in Belgium. All the pow
er Of a military oppressor and all
the rewards he has to offer have
been eXerted upon such Belgians as
Germany believed to be Weakened
or shallowpated.
To such a pass has it come that
, Philip Scheidemann, in declaring
against the disguised annexation of
Belgium, uses the words:
The independence of Belgium
ho and tho EN1pn1i n Spc
and Walloons must settle their diff
erences among themselves.
The first clause of the declaration
is admirable; the second betrays the
fact that even Scheidemann has fall
len victim to the belief that there
actually are differences" between
the Flemings and Walloons. If
there are, they are the manufactured
product of earnest German effort, eX-
erted unremittingly for three years
over a shattered people wholly in
German power.
And now, in addition, comes Won
Hertling's indecent attempt to bride
King Albert's Government. 1t is d
cunning idea; deprived OF Belgium
as an argument, where would the
Allies be? So Hertling reasons; if
Belgium is satisfied with our terms,
what excuse have the rest of you
for holding out" And he makes the
offer at a time when German intri-
que in Belgium has done its utmost,
when Germany believes she has ac-
tually succeeded in sowing the seeds
of a permanent division between the
two sections of the population, and
when the conquest of Russia may be
supposed to have raised the question
in weak Belgian hearts, rs there,
after all, any hope for US? If the
conqueror is willing to let us live,
why not lay down our arms lest
worse befall?"
Germany's ultimate intentions
with regard to Belgium are not in
the least doubt. Won Hertling says:
1T has been repeatedly SAID that
we do not contemplate retaining Bel
GUM, but that we must be safe
guarded from the danger of a coun
try, with which we desire after the
war to live in peace and friendship, |
becoming the object or jumping-off /!
ground of enemy Vaccinations
We will release Belgium. but we
must be safeguarded. And by what
safeguards? Long ago Chancellor |
Won Bethmann Hollweg told Ambas- |
sador Gerard that when peace came !
Germany would withdraw from Bel
GUM, but with guarantees" That |
means the same as safeguards. Mr..
Gerard asked him what these guar
antees would be, and Hertling's pre-
decessor replied:
I'VE must positively have the forts
OF Liege and Namur; we must have
other forts and garrisons throughout I
Belgium. We must have possession
st tihe-7porrtts ports and other means OF
The Belgians will
not be allowed to maintain an army,
but we must be allowed to retain
large army in Belgium. We must
have commercial control of Bel
GUM
These "safeguards," these guar
would give Belgium the
same kind of independence that Ger
many intends for Poland, Courland,
and Lithuania. Just as she is using
1.-The self-determination of peoples"
in her own way to eXtort a consent
from these three countries, SO she is
trying by intrigue to set up the same
pretense in Belgium; and she hopes
to come before the peace conference
posing as the spokesman and liberia
tor of all these devastated and I'M
happy lands, making reichslands of
them without giving them the name.
N. Y. Times.
Money To Loan.
Money to loan In large and small
Webster. Sprtns ST