CATHOLIC LEADER RESIGNS Troubles of a Belgian Bank

From Our Own Correspondent
ANTWERP.
Catholic Minister of Communications, the strong man of the Tripartite Cabinet, and Flemish Leader of the Christian Democrats, 'NI. Marck has resigned.
This resignation comes as a complementary coup de theatre to the closing on December 2 of a big
Belgian bank by the Public Prosecutor.
The bank is a Catholic concern and has many branches throughout Belgium. By this unusual procedure some 120,000 small depositors arc deprived of their bank balances.
The bank's affairs became involved, it is alleged, through being hampered by new legislation clumsily devised by the Van Zeeland and other Governments to prevent the bank scandals that at that period were rampant.
POLITICAL ISSUE
This trouble has become a big political issue. Finally, under pressure the Government has decided to intervene to save the small investors, who will eventually receive about 85 per cent. of their deposits.
Probably something will be done for the staffs.
M. Merck, it is alleged, was accused of breach of coefidence in withdrawing a large sum on the very morning that the bank was closed. He has refuted the charge by showing that he never had such a large sum at the bank and merely cashed about £10.
M. March, however. maintains his resignation and has withdrawn from the Cehinet.