Death cf Belgian Ambassador

Solemn Pontifical Mass was sung in Westminster Cathedral on Wedncsday, for Baron de Cartier de Marchienne, for nearly 20 years Be.g:an Ambassador to Britain, The Baron was the doyen of the plornatic Corps at the Court of St. James. From 1940 onwards. by his steadfastne s in the face of the German invasion of his country, he became the symbol of Be gium's courage in the resistance wh.ch centred in London. Of the British people he said in 1943 that " the foie go diplomats had found it a great privilege to live among them in their hours of stress and toil." He d:cd on Friday. May 10.
He had been ill since January. He was 74 years of age.
In the absence of the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster. the Requiem Mass was sung by. Mgr. Myers, Bishop of Lamus and Aux liaryBishop' to H.s Eminence. The funeral followed to Brookwood Cemetery. Messages of sympathy have been received from the King, from Mr Sevin, and from the Prime Minister. The Baron had been Belgian Ambassador since 1927.
As a Catholic the Baron was elmseecuous in his attent on to his duties. and his pressnce cou'd be cousted tin lot a.1 afticial occas ons at Westm n.te Cathedral or Archb shop's House. He was well known at the Belgian Church in Camden Town on similar occasions. He insi-ted throughout the per od o the Belgian Government in London that the Church should play its full part in all ceremonies A Belgian priest, for many years in London, observed to this reporter this week : " his whole life was illuminated and gu:ded by a religisus faith which was truly Belgian He represented his King, his country and his country's ancient and tenaciously r ch Catholic spirit in many countries; his feeling and h:s belief in all il.ree were integrated in his p-srsonal Catho'icism, which was as. strong as the Europe which lashtoned hint"
Before coming to 1.ondon the Ambassador served in Vienna, Belgrsde. Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, Peking, Paris, back to Peking. and then to London as Counsellor to the Embassy in 1906 He was a Fr end to Lord Kitchener and to Mr. Eden, for whom he had a great admiration. Throughout the blitz be rcma ned in London: his official duties, the routine of his embassy. was never altered. At the height of the German air bombardment he would dine each evening under the glass roof of his house.
Alter the liberation he visited K:ng Leopold in Austria. He received the highest honour Belgium can confer for his services during the war—the Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold.