Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-29

Of the slender foundation on which voir accusations
rest results dD not always justi}y our erpccta- !
,toms' Me chtet btamc nuot be sought5or-I am
peHed 10 edmit--in the rant of cooperation, on tho
part ot the competent Belgian authorities and IL, the
oosence Of public spirit among the Belgian people,
Nevertheless these authorities and the population
o, 6et9m are TIC principal objects of the Governor
generals beneUotent Intentions. y
offer 10 your En,iuonce the oppression Of mn SIM
ccre esteem ~ ts
(Signed) ~, as LANCKEN.@
D.. ,CoMptains 3f Vcratious Measures
: The Cardinal in letter addressed to Baron Won der
Lancken and In which he complains of several vexatos
measures taken by the occupying power again
uie ocntfals OF beng the primary of the acute
distress in which the population was plunged
Archbishops House, Malines
+,' December IL, 1917 +
To BaroE Won der Lancken Chief of the Political De-
partment of the Government General Brus
Dear Baron--I am glad to accept your kind
offer to transmit sealed letter to the head Catholic
chaplain. Mgr Joppen*
1t is true. then, that in spite of all the promises
made TO his Holiness and to the Dean Jules Her
man will not recover his liberty The case is one of
the numerous applications of process nadmissibe
IN justice. When the tribunal sentences prisoner to
definite penalty and the penalty is paid the prisoner
has right to his liberty. But now without new
trial, by arbitrary decision he is kept in exile
Among the numerous victims of this procedure NAV
mention the mayor Of Malnes, NJ. Charles Dessain;
the dean OF Orp-le-Grand, NJ Herman, and my secre-
tdry, Canon Loncin.
know that people arc irving to be disapreeahe
TO me- but is this reason for condoning an njustice
. The same ungracous intention toward myself
again manfests itself in the letter written in the
name, of the Government General to his Excellency
the Nuncio. regarding the closing of the Ursuline
Convent at Malines This letter speaks of the spirit
of rebellion" against the laws of the country of
.breaches, whlen being committed at sMares itself
This is enormously identifying with rebellion"
rassve resistance dictated by motives of conscience
and with the "aws Of the country" measures fabri-
Gated for no other purpose than to overturn them.
Furthermore, supposlng the training colleges had
broken the laws of the country, it does not follow
tnat it permissible to shut the Catholic secondary
school and the Catholic primary school, which though
under the roof the training college, had moth
ing in common with it. The closing of these two
schools is severe blow to the freedom of education
still hope that the line Of action taken against these
innocent nuns will not be continued With
AS regards the "Ceutrals," it is not possible for
you not to feel The weakness of your pleading
No doubt have reminded small farmers of the
obligations charity and common fairness imposed upon
them, because hold that must tell the truth even
TO our friends, but you will notice that immediately
subjoined: 81 am fully aware that the primary re-
sponsibty for the cfisy does not rest with the small
farmers. In document intended for public reading in
the Churches could not be more precise than this
but you are too circumspect not to that did not
even mention the word Central" Do not place any
additional burden ON the shoulders of the small farm
ers. You have already weighed down and drained
them by the fines you have inflicted. 'The Central is
but octopus whose spreading tentacles increasingly
absorb tho vital resources of the country Leave the
permanent deputations and the national committee to
preside over the distribution of FOOD and coal and then
the people will be nourshed and warmed and YOU
will no longer incur the reproach of having favored
Germany and engaged in commerce with the neutral
countries to our detriment.
" Please receive the assurance of our sincere es->
teenr. ',.....
'. (Signed) ~ D. !. CARDINAL MERCER, ,
Archbishop Of Malines
'In answering a letter of the Cardinal wherein
he intereeded on behalf Of political prisoner, Baron
ION der Laneken offered to forward sealed letter to
he'd not obtained leave to return to Belgium. -
college, under the direction Of the Ursulines in their
unWilingness to recognize the administrative separa
tion imposed by the occupying power refused as the
majority of establishments had done to preseut their
pupils before an examination board which members
trou the offices sat On account of this refusal
The government ordered the closure not only Of the
training college but also of the free secondary school
and the primary school, which carried on in the
same buildings as the training college.
CONTINUED TOMORROW
Copyright, bp Public ledger 90. 50
Copyright, Canada. 1920, By Public Ledger Co