Evening star., 1937-06-06
Van iceland, Democrocy's Rock
In Europe, VIII Visit u. S. Soon
Freer Trade to Be Ainl
in Discussions Here
With ROOSerpH.
BY BLAIR BOLLES.

Paul van iceland, princeton post
graduate student, was considered shy
fellow. But Paul van iceland, Belgian
premier, is one of the strong men of
Europe. He is the first champion of
democracy on the continent, and he
is about to pack his trunk for trip
to the United States and talk with
President Roosevelt on the favorite
subject of each-freer trade
Van iceland is important because
he is Europe's swing man. He is the
most apt conciliator abroad of differ
ing views. When his premiership was
threatened two months ago Vatican
Catholics and Paris Socialists sup
ported him in print. Baltic countries
in search of an adviser on how to
expand their trade sought Van Zee
land When France and England
wanted man to sound out opinion
for new world economic conference
they chose Van Iceland.
Even if the Belgian gets nowhere in
his purpose of having the White House
summon such an economic gathering,
Van Iceland and Roosevelt should
have an interesting conversation. The
fundamental point of the foreign
policy of each is similar-preserve
democracy and prevent war by abol-
ishing trade barriers. And each can
thank the other for the success Of
the Belgian United States trade agree
ment. which has worked so well that
Van Iceland would like other conti-
mental countries to follow the Amer
lean lead and lower commerce bars
through similar agreements.
Trade History Under Pact.
The Beleo- United States agreement
became effective in March. 1885. The
course of trade, in Belgian francs.
since the year before, gives Van Zee
land his chief argument in favor OF
such agreements.
Belgian Belgian
tranS' i#GSl.s s. ssS's,- s1gos,.
Year. Francs. Francs
1884 - 99o.00O000 613000000
1885 $3.50 1860 900 99l 100000
1896 --- 1,513,00o0 900 1872 900 600
From the United States Belgium
buys primarily automobile parts.
From Belgium the United States buys
cut diamonds. On this foundation
is reared a huge trade which makes
Belgium the fourth European market
of the United States. Because of
glass strikes here. the United States
recently took an unusually large sup
ply of Belgian glass Because of war
preparation demands, Belgium became
a large buyer of American copper
last year when the Congo could not
fill the orders of the mother coun-
try. Belgian lumber purchases in
this country were cut down by the
Pacific Coast shipping strike, but re-
armament has doomed Belgian Or
ders' here for tinplate.
Van Iceland kept Belgian trade
healthy in 1886 despite strikes Of
Antwerp dock workers, coal miners
and general industrial labor. The
premier ordered weeks vacation
with pay for all laborers. He in
creased the school age to combat un-
employment, which fell from 206,-
511 workers in March, 1885, to 10l,-
o70 workers in October, 1895. He
urged a 40-hour week in all dangerous
or unhealthy industries. He Is al
most as social-minded as the Presi-
dent he is coming to see.
Rose Quickly to Power.
Van iceland is As now. He left
the United States II years ago with
Phi. D. from Princeton, reputa-
ton for brilliance, name among
bankers for his study of the Federal
Reserve System, and label of shy
ness. But he was not shy enough to
hide his abilities from President Le-
preuX of the Belgian National Bank,
who made Van Iceland his secretary,
nor from King Leopold III, who two
years ago asked Van iceland to be-
come premier.
The banker was a man Of broad
knowledge with little political back
ground. He joined the Catholic party
in 1929 and sat in two cabinets, but he
outraged the politicians when he agreed
to serve as premier only If he could
have coalition ca binet. First he was
banker and financier, second a
student
He studied Greek and Latin at St.
Vincent's College, near his Belgian
birthplace. He studied law, diplomacy
and economics at Louvain University.
He studied more economics and Eng
lish, German and Russian in a Ger
man prison camp, where he spent four
years. He studied year at Princeton
on scholarship available to Belgium
| students.
Princeton plans to award him An
IL. D. June % in recognition of the
honor he has brought his American
| alma mater. The next day he will
proceed to Washington and spend the
night at the White House On June "a
IS and 26 he will be entertained at the