Evening star., 1950-03-19
Government Collapse
In Belgium Delays
Return Of Leopold
BY the A.seeiotsd Press

BRUSSELS, Belgium, Mar. 1S.
The Belgian government re-
signed today and thereby post
poned King Leopold's chance to
return to his throne.
The collapse Of the government
was caused by the eight Liberal
ministers, who refused to go along
with the nine pro-Leopold Social
Christians in calling a joint ses-
sion of the two houses Of Parlia-
ment to end the regency and in
vite the 4S-year- old monarch to
return from exile in Switzerland.
One Of the possible results may
be new general elections.
The King, still in a jam be-
cause Of his surrender to the
Germans after only Is days OF
fighting in 1910, will not be able
to come back until Belgium has
a government which agrees to call
Parliament into joint session.
Parliament must then repeal a
law of 1945 which bars Leopold
from resuming his constitutional
powers without its permission.
Regent Consults Leaders.
Prince Charles. brother of the
king and regent since the liberia
ton. began consulting political
leaders this afternoon. He saw
Robert Gillon, Liberal chairman
of the house, and Franz van
Cauwelaert, Social Christian
president of the Senate. and then
called In the presidents of the
Social Christian. Liberal and So
cialist Parties. Julient Lahaut
president Of the Communist Party,
was summoned too, but he could
not attend. The regent then sus-
pended consultations until Mon
day.
In refusing to agree to call a
joint session the Liberals stood
by their preplebiscite position
that the king must obtain q
majority of the votes in the
French-speaking south and east
(Walloonia) and the Socialist
dominated central Brussels area as
we'll as the Flemish speaking
north and west.
In the advisory plebiscite last
Sunday. in which the people were
asked whether they wanted the
King back, 57.68 per cent voted
yes" Leopold won 71.09 per cent
Of the vote in Flanders. But he
failed to capture the Walloon
provinces. where he received only
42.ll per cent, and the Brussels
area, where he got only 4S.17 per
cent.
Thousands Called on Strike.
Former Premier Paul Henri
spaak's Socialists. bitter Leopold
opponents. said this showed Leo
pold would not be King of all the
Belsians. but only of the Flemish.
Socialist labor union leaders
yesterday called thousands of
workers out in a 24-hour warning
strike to demonstrate q conten-
ton that chaos would result If
Leopold returns.
The strike was over today. Re-
ports from Charleroi. Mons and
Naumur, the southern centers of
the wabkout, said the situation was
normal again.
But one leader implied that
new strike movements might take
place Monday with the observa-
ton that to-day is pay day."
One way out Of Belgium's dead
lock would be for Leopold to ab-
dicate in favor of his 19-year-old
son, Prince Baudouin. This Is not
likely.
Leopold declared Thursday after
comforting with Social Christian
Premier CASTOR Eyskens at Gene
va that in view of his 57.68 per
cent majority. II can only remain
ut the disposal Of the nation"
He asked the government to
convene q joint session of Par
Lament for speedy action to end
the regency or to declare he
should abdicate.
The Social Christians want him
back. However, they lack two
votes Of having an absolute ma
jority In the House of Represen-
tatives. In the elections of last
June they elected los members OF
the 212 representatives. There are
IS Socialists, 80 Liberals and Il
Communists, a total of 107 anti
Leopoldists.
In q joint session Of Senate and
House. however. the Social Chris
tians would have a majority OF
seven. The ITS senator's are di-
vided as follows: 90 Social Chris
tians. 50 Socialists, Liberals and