Evening star., 1950-07-31
Leopold Offers
.ToDeIegateHis
Powers 10 Son
Temporary Transfer
Studied as Foes Press
For His Abdicution
BY the Assoeioied Press


clared today that King Leopold
has offered to temporarily dele
gate his royal powers to Crown
Prince Baudouin.
The premier said the king made
the offer on condition the OPP
position Socialists withdraw their
political and economic demands
and make them later through
parliamentary channels.
This announcement came after
both Mr.. Duvieusart and Socialist
Leader Max Buset had conferred
with Leopold this morning at Lac
ken Palace.
The Kings decision was dis
closed as the crisis over his return
from exile 10 days ago threatened
to plunge the nation into civil
war. The vanguard of an army
of anti-Leopoldist was reported al
ready marching on Brussels. Three
anti-Leopoldists were killed by
gendarmes last night in Liege.
This climaxed a wave of violence
and strikes which had paralyZed
the nations economy.
Monarchy Not Opposed.
Mr. Buset had limited before
going to the palace that the hour
of Leopold's abdication was close
at hand.
Mr.. Duvieusart made his an
nouncement after a second meet
ing with the King and lengthy
conference with the cabinet and
leaders of the Socialist and Social
Christian Parties.
The King was reported to have
insisted that the Socialists-who
have spearheaded the fierce oppo-
sition to him--put their demands
into constitutional form rather
than attempt to realize them
through violence and strikes.
The offer would make 19-year-
old Crown Prince Baudouin the
temporary ruler of Belgium.
The bitter opposition of at
least half of Belgium's 100000
people has been directed not at
the monarchy, but at Leopold
himself, chiefly for surrendering
his country to the invading Nazis
in 1910.
In making his announcement,
the Premier said that if Leopold's
offer is not accepted "it seems
there will be on reconciliation"
In this case" Mr.. Duvieusart
added, Everybody must take his
own responsibility"
Party Leaders Meet.
Soon after the Kings offer was
made known, leaders of the three
major parties met in Parliament
to exchange views. The pro-Leo-
pold Social Christians were rep
resented by Chairman Francois
Van Ded Staetenaillet and Au-
guste de Schrijver. The Social
lists sent Mr.. BuSet and former
Premier Paul-Henri Spaak. The
smaller Liberal Party was repre-
sented by Rene Lefebvre and E.
M. L. Coulon-Vaux.
He returned and told reporters
mo decision has been taken" on
Socialist demands that the king
abdicate.
Most of the cabinet is UNDER
stood to favor Leopold's abdica-
ton. But some ministers re-
portedly thought the king should
make the decision himself.
Tension which has been rising
since Leopold's return from exile
nine days ago reached a peak last
night with the killing of three
anti-Leopoldists by police who
fired on demonstrators at Liege.
After the violence Socialist
leaders warned that civil war
would break out unless the king
abdicated.
Walloon Banner Raised.
In Liege, where the anti-Leo-
pold tide has surged strongest,
demonstrators ripped down the ma
tional tri-color and hoisted the
yellow flag and red rooster of Wall
loonla.
A Walloon separatist leader
said his group was considering
setting up a constituent assem-
bly," to press demands for Leo
pold's abdication. The bulk Of
the Kings support has come from
the Flemish-speaking provinces of
North Belgium.
Yesterdays shooting occurred
in the Grace Berleur suburb of
Liege. There were conflicting ver-
sions of how it occurred.
One version said the shooting
occurred while Simon Paque, So
cialist parliamentary Deputy, was
addressing group of striking
metal workers from the balcony
of a house overlooking the open
square. Mr.. Paque broke off the
meeting when a dozen gendarmes
in a truck. but they ar
rested him on the sidewalk and
tried to push him into their truck.
Arthur Samson, Mayor of Grace
Berleur, tried to intervene, the
account continued, but also was
During the resulting melee the
three men were killed.
The government version of the
shooting issued in Brussels said
Mr.. Paque was addressing some
500 to 600 persons, although dur
ing the current crisis gatherings
of more than five persons are il
legal.
Eleven armed gendarmes in
tervened to end the meeting" the
account said, "a listener threw a
brick at squad leader and seized
his machine gun from him."
The government statement said
the crowd rushed the police after
the squad leader had shot one
man and that two others were