European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 27, 1948, Darmstadt, Hesse 3p"i"- a v.-,-. -.-xj?. is for pc a .lt5?"- on billboards and Walls throughout Belgium signs both encourage and discourage the resignation of King Leopold Iii the Royal question rocks Belgium by Eugene Levin still confronted with the problem of what to do with exiled King Leopold in Many belgians would like to dissolve their Little monarchy in favor of a Republican form of government Brussels sandwiched Between France an Germany prosperous. Belgium As Sumes the appearance of an Island Paradise whose chief problem could Beno greater than a shortage of coca cola bottles. But to the eight million citizens of Belgium their country has one very real problem at Issue what is the future of belgian Royalty in general and King Leopold Iii in particular even the usually Calm and dignified belgian Law makers have come to blows in Parlia ment trying to find the answer. With indications that this will be the year for decisions on both counts the country is steadily keying itself for the Leopold Iii who left Geneva for a vacation in Havana in january has not been in Belgium since the seventh army freed him from German Captivity near Salzburg in Early 1945. Belgians have wanted to know Why reordered the country s army to surrender to the germans Why he married a com Moner Why he carried on his Normal duties after the nazis occupied Belgium and Why he defied his Cabinet that wanted him to head a government in exile. Leopold decided to go to Switzer land and prepare the answers to these questions before returning to Belgium especially since the Antwerp Dock workers and the Namur and Liege miners were threatening to strike if he returned. In the course of time his forty four year old brother Prin Echarles a colourless Bachelor became Regent and Leopold became a King in exile who was t a King in exile. This contradiction came about through one of the Many wrangles in the discord. The belgian parliament handmade the King a Legal exile and had made his brother Regent in August 1945 under a Law that prevents Leopold return without parliamentary Permis Sion. However Leopold s backers have asserted that the decree is unconstitutional saying the parliament cannot Tell a King when he can and cannot Rule. The King s opponents who have argue that the Issue is mainly one of the relationship Between the King and his legislators and that Leopold overstepped constitutional rights admit that the Law which makes Leopold an exile is valueless. Therefore it is generally take for granted that Leopold can return anytime he wishes but at the sometime the exile Law stays on the books. Therefore the problem Narrows Downto whether or not he can assume his constitutional duties without Plungin Belgium into political and economic in the two and a half year old argument Belgium is almost equally divided Between pro and anti Leopold factions. Actually the Issue has become chiefly a political Point of con. Flint Between the communists socialist Sand liberals on one Side and the pro Leopoid right Wing social Christianson the other. With this line up most politicians feel that the King s return could Well bring about a general strike. To Many observers the whole future of Belgium As a kingdom is at stake. The line up of the Cabinet and the two houses of the legislature Demon Strate the almost equal cleavage in the country Between the two groups. Inthe House of representatives Leopold has ninety three social Christian part supporters opposing the combination of sixty nine socialists Twenty three communists and seventeen liberals or. A total of 109 anti Leopold members. The Senate is More closely drawn with eighty three social christians against eighty four opponents fifty five socialists seventeen communists and twelve liberals. Socialist Premier Paul Henr Spaak s Cabinet is divided about in half on the Royalty question made up of eight socialists nine social christians and two independents. Generally speak ing the flemish part of the country is More favourable to Leopold s return while the French speaking balloons oppose it. New elections would no change the picture it As believed since belgian Public sentiment has remained almost unchanged since the last Vole in february 1946.Leopold s popularity has really been on the Wane Ever since he announce to the belgians that the War was Over on May 24, 1940, after the belgian army had capitulated to the germans. His marriage to a commoner also helped to generate a great Deal of ill will even among staunch Leopold royalists. Still at the base of the entire dispute lies Thuc Monarch s conduct during the War. I n june 1944 the germans took Leopold and his family from Lueken Palace near Brussels to Strobel Austria from where he was later freed by the americans. Since that liberation he has negotiated almost continually for his return and the Royal question As the Issue is commonly known remained be fore the people becoming an important part of postwar belgian a series of articles earned by the Independent Brussels paper Lesoir Fonner belgian prime minister Hubert Pierlot presented the Case against the King. He wrote that the difference then and now concerned the position of the Crown to parliament. Pierlot charged that the King told the ministers that the army would Retreat North staying in Belgium instead of South into also said that Leopold resisted the ministers pleas to flee and make him self a Symbol of belgian Liberty and that on May 24, 1940, the King declare the War Over for Belgium and said if the government wanted to continue fighting with the allies it could no longer count on his Leopold s support and approval. Finally Pierlot charged that never in the four years of occupation did the King communicate with Pierlot or any other member of the government in exile. For his part Leopold has insisted that he acted constitutionally. A com Mission of belgians appointed by the King at the request of a parliament eager to give Leopold a Chance to present his defense whitewashed the Monarch at the expense of the govern ment in exile in London. The com Mission s report asserted that Leopold retreated North hoping the front would stabilize that he did t flee because he thought it was his duty to stay with his people and troops that during the occupation the King had tried to keep Bel Gium economically alive and to Clinch it All that he was eventually made German prisoner. Leopold admitted that he though the War was Over forever for Belgium and that Hitler was assured of com plete Victory. To prove that he was not alone in this opinion the report of the Monarch s commission contains state ments by leading americans whose country was still Neutral when the lowlands fell telling of the nazi , the problem has become less and less a question of personal integrity and More and More a political Issue. Spaak who has tried to keep above party lines told parliament last december 10 that it is not a problem of the King s Honor. What divides belgians is a political the socialist continued on Page 17 5
