LEOPOLD RESISTS ALL PRESSURE

By a Staff Reporter
As we go to press, the Belgian Government, are still bending every effort to make the position. of their King impossible. In the meantime, home conditions in Belgium grow worse : the Catholic Party has withdrawn from the Coalition Government, and the Flemis;h people—a large numberof whom are unrepresented in Parliament—are still stolidly standing for the return of Leopold. The Flemings are the largest section of Belgium's population—they number more than two-thirds of the total. They are unanimously King's men; they have supporters among the *Walloons,
LEOPOLD VIRTUALLY SHAEF PRISONER More interesting information becomes available as the weeks pass. It has now been disclosed that the King is virtually a prisoner in Salzburg. The Belgian Government has requested Shaef not to grant him safe conduct. All transportation is under the control of the military, so Leopold and his family are marooned while the Belgian Government plays politics above a moving people. The King cannot leave his house without being challenged by a sentry. It is done 'Very politely. The King must be protected. But if the King wants to join his people he will have to walk accompanied only by his children.
The political game is being played by Van Acker regardless of the rules of democratic! Belgium—hut every weapon is being employed.
There are two reasons for the withdrawal of the Catholic Ministers this week. Their disappointingly weak attempt to stand by the constitution brought the wrath of their party upon them and quick, fierce criticism. And their realisation that the debate to be
held is also unconstitutional. The method of abdication in Belgium—as it is in Britain—is only constitutionally effective. if the King signs a Bill of Abdication (we had such a case with Edward. Vill). A Bill to prolong the Regency is likewise unconstitutional. It cannot become effective without ,Leopold's consent.
CONSTITUTIONAL METHOD
Finally, it must be tepeated that the King's request for a General Election, a request supported by the Catholic Party, is not only the one democratic method of settling this crisis, it is also a practical method. Every single person in Belgium carries an identity card. Elections could be organised within a month, It is atm a fact that a large number of Belgians were represented in Parliament by the Flemish Nationalist Party. This party has now been banned. Those who voted for it have no " members in the House." Their voice is silent in the councils of Belgium. They support the King.
Abdication forced upon Leopold is in effect an attempt to force Left Dictatorship on Belgium. The Socialists are trying to take over where the National Sotialists left off. •