Evening star., 1939-11-05
Belgium, Hoping for Best, Prepares for Worst,
Says Theunis, Visitor in Capital
Ex-Premier to Study
Economic Problems
Arising From War
By JAMES FREE,

PICTURE a nation less than one.
thirtieth the size and about one
fourteenth as populous as the United
States maintaining standing army
considerably larger than that Of the
United States-at a cost of more
than $40, 900 900 Q month.
Add the fact that this small coun-
try, which ranked seventh in the
world in volume Of foreign trade
in 1898, is striving nightly to MAIN
tain its international commerce in
the face Of virtual blockades Of
important long-established trade
routes.
And, above all, keep in mind that
this nation Is surrounded by larger
and vastly more powerful countries
which are at war-at war so close
by that fighting can be heard from
adjacent land and sea and some
times seen in the air across national
boundaries.
Consider these factors, said
Georges Theunis in an interview
here yesterday, and you can appre-
ciate the precarious position Of Bel
gium in Europe today.
Former Prime Minister.
Georges Theunis allows himself
no titles, although he Is a former
Prime Minister of Belgium now in
this country on semi official, eco
nomic mission" He is also widely
known as president and director OF
many public utilities companies, as
Belgium's representative at many
an economic conference (serving as
president of the International Eco
nomic Conference at Geneva In
1920, as former pesident of the
international Chamber of Com
merce 1929-3D, as an authority on
electical engineering and military
affairs. When pressed, he identified
himself as a sort of ambassador
at-large."
As Mr.. Theunis spends no time
glorifying himself or his mission,
neither does he seek sentimental
sympathy for his country. Sixty
six-year-old, clear-eyed, quick
thinking Georges Theunis is a real
list. He is serious rather than grim
about his task, and doubtless has
found that Americans like him
the better for it.
Since Mr.. Theunis has been in
the United States less than two
weeks and is only in initial stages of
much Of. the business he hopes to
transact, he declined to discuss his
objectives in detail. His visit here,
he said, is result of Belgium's
efforts to study new economic
problems arising from the war, to
investigate possible sources of raw
material and foodstuffs and to ar
range for tonnage to solve the
numerous shipping problems which
undoubtedly will arise"
He admitted he has been in con-
ference with officials of the State
and Commerce Departments and
with industrial leaders, stressing all
the. while that his aims are eco
nomic and not political.
Wants Freer Trade.
Il became premier of my coun-
try because I was a technician,
not because I was a politician he
explained. II am still'a techniciah.
Mr.. Theunis declared that his
primary purpose is to obtain "freer
trade" between the United States
and Belgium. The United States,
he stated, sold Belgium $4,000 900
worth of goods in the first eight
months of 1899.
THE drastic upheaval which is
taking place at present in European
affairs is bound to have unfore-
seeable repercussions on your trade
as we'll as ours" he said. Both our
countries are definitely striving to
maintain their neutral status. BY
working together in even closer
relationship than before, we hope
to be able to adjust and reshape
our foreign trade to the mutual
benefit or both parties concerned" 4"
Belgian export and import trade is
handicapped greatly by delays re-
sulting from the searching of Bel
gian ships by belligerent powers on
the lookout for contraband, he as
serted. BY way Of illustration, Mr..
Theunis pointed out that his cross
ing Of the Atlantic on the Rotter-
dam fell four full weeks behind
schedule. "Such uncertainty as to
delivery date makes it very difficult
for our manufacturers to compete
for business abroad" he said.
Seek U. S. Planes.
Other representatives of his coun-
try. according to Mr.. Theunis, are
seeking to purchase $50 to 200 air
planes for use of the Belgian Army.
These will be permitted to pass the
blockades, he feels confident, on
Belgium's assurances that the planes
are strictly for its own use and will
not be reshipped across its borders.
AS for Belgium's defensive
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