Evening star., 1945-07-21
Leopold and Hitler
Conferred al Retreat,
Premier Declares
BY the Associated Press.

BRUSSELS, July 2l.-Premiel
Achille Van Acker told the Bel.
gian Parliament yesterday thai
King Leopold III solicited an in,
terview with Hitler at Berchtes.
gaden, that later he refused to joir
the Belgian 'Maquis," and thaf
finally his removal into Germany
was voluntary.
Mr.. Van Acker made the accusa'
tions during parliamentary de-
bate on the whole royal controversy
which boiled to a climax with enact
ment Thursday of a law virtually
exiting the monarch. He accused
Leopold of having termed American
and British generals brutal and ILL
hammered"
Leopold "has not betrayed Bel
gium," Mr.. Van Acker declared, but
he believed in a German victory
and made so many mistakes there's
nothing left for him" except alb
dication.
Claims Sister Arranged Meeting.
Mr.. Van Acker, asserting that
Belgian state affairs are paralyzed'
by the abdication crisis, stated that
the vital interests of Belgium can
not be sacrificed to one man, who
ever he may be-"
He declared "12 well-known legal
personalities" advised Leopold
against any interview with Hitler
but that Leopold had his sister
Princess Marie Jose of Piedmont
organize. this meeting with Hitler
He said he possessed copy of a
memorandum prepared by person
alities who accompanied the King
to BerchteSgaden. He said il
showed that the King not only dis
cusSed with Hitler better treatment
of Belgian prisoners and Belgian
food problems, but that Leopold
himself initiated conversations "or
such political subjects as main
tenance of the SaXe-Coburg dynasty
the military regime of Belgium, and
German control of our foreign af-
fairs. All these things were to be
put into practice after the conclu-
sion of peace"
Refused to Join Maquis.
Mr.. Van Acker, who was active IL
the underground during the Ger.
man occupation, said he himself ar.
ranged for Leopold to join the
"Maquis" as his brother, Regent
Prince Charles, did. But, he con-
tinued, when he sent an emisSary Il
the palace of Laeken where the
monarch stayed during much of the
occupation, the King gave nine rea-
sons for not following the plan.
These reasons. the Premier said
included: That Belgium would SET
bloodshed and he did not want to bt
here when it occurred, that Allied
commanders would meddle in Bel
gian problems and the King couldn't
stand that if he were in Belgium
that he didn't want to be in Bel
gium when Allied forces landed or
the Continent, and "the King sale
that British and American generals
were brutal and ill-mannered."
Only Catholic party speakers de-
Tended Leopold in the debate, anc
its leader, Carton De Wharf, success.
fully demanded from Mr.. Van Ackel
all documents on which the Premiel
based his opening speech. Parlia'
ment adjourned the debate unit
Tuesday, in order that party leaders
might study the documents.
Leopold Defended.
Mr.. De Wharf defended Leopold!
action in the Belgian surrender, as
serting that RuSsia's attitude at tha
moment was mot what it should
have BEEN" and that the Belgian
government in London apparently
believed at that time that Germany
would win the war.
Mr.. Van Acker said he had triec
vainly during the past two month!
to avoid an abdication demand, bu
that the issue was forced by Leo
pold's lack of comprehension"
He described Belgium itself as "s
prey of uncertainty" delaying recon
struction which should be the only
Va I1lC LhIllJ1
1t is essential to put ar end to thi'
paralysis everything is in dan
ger of crashing down because Of thu
attitude of one single man"
| The Premier said Leopold's life
has been full of tragedy" that HI
fought in the World War while still
a boy, that he lost his first wift
! Queen AStrid) and was plunged
into another war with responsible.
tiles too heavy for his shoulders"
Leopold's Son Mentioned.
AS result, he continued, th'
King confused the higher inter.
ests of the nation with those of hi.
person"
Defending Belgium's parliament
ary monarchy system, Mr.. Var
Acker said 1--WE must do everything
possible to save it," and concluded
his speech with a plea to rally
around" the young Prince Baudoin
Leopold's son.
Referring to Leopold's second mar
riage during the war, Mr.. Van Acke
declared "the King is not a man hk,
others; he is considered to be {
superman, and the pedestal OF
which the King stood has been de-
stroyed by this marriage"
He asserted the king has not re-
acted like the whole nation in tn,
face of the German invasion. H,
was convinced of German victor!
and has not done all in his powel
to counteract the enemy's designs.
Honor Medal Winner Gets