Evening star., 1923-09-02
FAITH OF BELGIUM
IN CRISIS PRAISED
Little Nations Reply to Brit.
ish Shows Loyalty to
French Bonds.
BY ANDRE TARDIEU,
By Cable to The Star

By Cable to The Star
PARIS. September 1.-It seems to be
the Belgians destiny always to be
confronted with difficult choices. In
1914 they had to choose between lib
erty and death. They chose liberty.
Today they must choose between
Great Britain and France-between
their reparations and their friends.
The choice, is perhaps less tragic, but
very delicate.
They have been facing this test for
three years, and be 1t said to their
honor that If they have not succeeded
In solving the question they have
been straightforward about it, The
last note from Brussels to London af-
fords another testimonial.
Has Own Policy.
Belgium, as the note shows, is fol-
lowing a separate policy of compro-
mise for general solution of the
Preparations problem. Geography, poll
tics and trade make this attitude ad-
visable. and she follows 1t with en-
tire fairness. In brief, she proposes
that Germany be required to pay 50,-
0O,000,000 gold marks, and that per-
centageS accruing to the different al
lies be modified so material damages
will be paid before personal damages
(pensions).
Great Britain, because of her
domlnions. always has been opposed
to the latter arrangement, and Bel
gium probably Will not get far with
that proposal in London. One other
point: Since England demands a fixed
sum of 14,000.000,oo0 gold marks,
equaling the amount she must pay, to
the United States, 1t is clear that il
her percentage is decreased she will
demand from the allies what she fails
to get from Germany.
Defines Issue Clearly.
Therefore. the writer does not be-
lieve that Foreign Minister Jaspars
note will bring the long reparations
controversy to close. However, 1t
defines the issue more clearly than
anything heretofore and puts it in
plain figures. 1t is true that England
seems almost as dissatisfied with the
Belgian note as with the French note.
Thus the chances of an agreement
are no better today than they were
yesterday.
Foreign Secretary Curzon. in his
last memorandum. treated Belgium s
claims rather lightly. He virtually
accused them of having received too
much In the past and of wishing to
receive too much in the future. Yet
Belgium has received only a small
part OF what the treaty promised and
of what justice required. Doubtless
Curzon would have been less harsh
at the moment when Belgium's little
army was covering the British army's
Tdebarkation.
What Belgium did in 1914 at the
cost of her life. is perhaps. almost
history's greatest moral gesture. 1t
merits a little more considerations
when speaking of its financial CON
sequences
The writer has often wondered at
the ShortneSs of memory of certain
British ministers in these matters,
At the peace conference we had to
fight as hard for Belgium's priority
as FOR the right to occupy the left
bank Of the Rhine. Lloyd George
was totally opposed to Belgium' 5
priority.
You lost fewer killed than we did"
he retorted brutally to Hymans and
Van Der Felde, Belgiums delegates.
Fought For Belgium.
The British delegates said the law
should be equal for all. and that Bel
gian priority would make their situa
tion impossible before the House Of Com
mons. Clemenceau finally won the
point and later told the sorry before
tne ffench senate in the following
terms. which are worth recalling:
AS for Belgian priority. I have. per-
haps acted rashly. We did not .obtain
priority for our reparations. yet at the
critical moment when Belgium needed
our help l succeeded in getting a
priority of two and a half billions for
Belgium. l didn't get it for France
but for another. 1 was perhaps rash.
| repeat. but l couldn't allow Belgium
to be left in such a situation with
Frances consent!'
From all parties the unanimous CRY
arose:
You are right :"
Frances attitude has not changed
and if Franco Belgian solidarity ha 8
been maintained in the Ruhr affair. pers
haps these old memories of four years
ago have as much to do with it as the
community of interests involved
Copyright. 1927