THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOBER 11, 1940.
Page
CHINA MAIL Germany In Belgium
WINDSOR HOUSE
DEFENCE IN COMMON
King Leopold's Attitude
(From a Correspondent lately: in Belgium):
that country, under German oc-
is still another six weeks to two
pendent
WHY:
USTRIA
WHY CIECHOSLOVAKIA
9066
AND
ALL THAT
RED
WHY
POLAND FELL
TAPE
WHY DENMARK
WHY NORWAY
WHY HOLLAN
HISTORY
BOOK
Sang--
CLUB Froid
WHY BELGIUM
WHY FRANCE
FELL
In his boole of reminiscences, "Thirty-five Years," Spenser WILL ilkinson tells how, when he was at- rested as a spy in Cracow in 1887% the Austrian: police were puzzled by something that they had never met before; das englische Phlegma. It is a quality Better known of old to the French, who used to call it le sang-poic habituel des Anglais not as the schoolboy believedj, lia: reference to the catarrhalt ef fects of the English winter, but withra significance purely mental or temperamental: To claim it For the English is to commit the insolent stupidity of claiming.that the English are any braver than other. nations. It is to claim more than a gift of a peculiar steadiness of nerve, of instinctive prevents the self-control, which making of a fuss... When Spenser, Wilkinson asked the Commissary at Cracow what was the normal behaviour of persons arrested as spies, he was told of excitement and obstreperousness, of violentį protestations and struggles to escape. Our enemies would like to, think they cannot persuade them- selves not: to think that the pea- ple of this land exhibit under air raids some such normal behavi- cur, panic, frenzy, despair-in short, fuss.
no
The news of the deci sion to re-open the Burma Road given out in the Prime Minister's great speech on Tuesday has inevitably provoked the most important reactions The continual stream of re-
from from the American Con- fugees
Belgium through Portugal has given an opportunity. tinent. The fleet at Hawaii of forming a fairly accurate pic is to be brought up to full ture of what is taking place it: war strength, American cupation: The one fact upon which nationals who can are ad. both Belgians and neutrals agree is the probability of a serious vised: to leave the Orient; famine in Belgium this winter. Mr. Hull has said U.S. Gloomy famine forebodings are bears her full share of based upon ample facts. Already Belgium is short of food, chiefly responsibility, and the re-fats, meat, and grain. The harvest ply to the status quo chal-months off. In any case it is bad. lenge of Japan has been and in normal times Belgium re- otherwise clear and un-ceives more than 70 per cent. of her wheat from America. Her mistakable. The quiet, in-cattle industry, is also largely de- spiring, and unboastful studs. The shortage is due to upon foreign feeding confidence of Mr. Chur-economic, and geographical causes, chill's language, based and not to wholesale German re- quisitioning. In the main the Ger- upon facts, and not mini- man army which came to Belgium mising unfavourable was fed from Germany; what was taken and paid for in worthless events, will also assuredly paper marks especially printed have considerable effect for the occasion was on a small and local scale. Temporary break- on public opinion in the downs in the German transport United States and the ex-system were the cause. tension to the Pacific of not build up large.
Unlike Holland, Belgium did
reserves of the agreement for defen- food. The blockade has hindered sive cooperation in the delivery of wheat from America, so that to-day there is practically | Atlantic, marked by the none left, In regard to fats, milk, lease of bases and the eggs, and meat. the need is not at the moment so grave, but it is Joint Defence Board with likely in the near future to assume owing Canada, is no longer a primarily to the German economic
very serious proportions, very remote contingency. policy in Belgium. The Germans have decided that the Belgians It is of course axiomatic are too well fed and could do with in British policy to be a lot less food, certainly with ready to cooperate with viction, has gone a determination the United States. As Mr. to change the whole course of the
country's rural cecnomy. Pastur Churchill: said, the prin- is to be cut down by 50 per cent, ciple of association of in-with a corresponding increase in terests for common. pur-put this plan into operation, In-Holland and Belgium; and possi-was in the main excellent. Every non-combatants machine-gunne poses had developed, be-evitably cattle have to be slaugh bly Denmark, complementary endeavour was made to gain Beon drowning men and their re- fore the war,
tered, and, while meat will con-units economy whose gian cooperation in all branches scuers made victims Various tinue to be obtainable, milk and units within one on my web public activity. The Belgians cowardice. These things are felt and remembered, and if the curses. agreements were then butter will become progressively whose policy will depend upon were reminded continually reached about certain scarcer: At the same time poultry the exigencies of the Third Reich. this invasion was very different they cause are not loud they are.
are to be obliterated from the So far as possible: they must be from that of 1914, different in two very deep. Nor does this steadi small islands in the Paci- land. Only 10 per cent of pre-independent of any support from ways. The Germans could be ness mean that we take assault Ly fic Ocean, which had be-tained; this means the survival taining themselves at
war poultry stocks can be main Germany and yet capable of main- good friends or the most fearfuling down, or (once we start) sre a level enemies. Ever since the beginning sluggish in providing against it come. important as air only of the barndoor fowl who above the starvation line. of the invasion the Germans have and repairing the damage done. taken care to show their powers and women arrange that this and Self-reliant, steady-headed men fuelling points. In the ings. Thus the egg has vanished. Few. Illusions
of potential frightfulness, Most case of the islands of Can- There is another side to this in-
Belgians saw the vast. swastika that small group shall take care within an The implications of such painted on the skies by German of itself, to the increase of effici- ton and Enderbury, for clusion of Belgium
overriding Reich economy. In policy, if it comes to anything, are aeroplanes in the first days, and ency, the fostering of mutual instance, to which both consultation with Belgian indus- not Yet appreciated by the ordine heard the terrifying noises made knowledge and the stern discour countries had claims of trialists and bankers, vital declary Belgian, He is given glowing by bombs and shells. Now Ger-agement of fuss. On the whole,
sions are being taken involving accounts of the prospects of the inan bombers drone continually perhaps, it is as well that ownership, it was ami- the fate of the country's principal future by his German master, over the Belgian cities, perform- enemies should be incapable of.
of inducing understanding that das englische cably decided that they industries. The production of Nazi and military quarters ridi-ing the dual service.
Phlegma does not mean either the cement and bricks is encouraged, cule the idea of a food shortage terror and training new pilots.
quiet of despair or, the callous should be jointly occupied while the motor car tyre industry in the coming winter. As propa-
levity of false confidence. If they German propaganda has is to be closed down. This appears ganda it may be good, yet the and controlled. The pre to be within the compass of the forebodings of well-informed Bel-tainly had a notable success. The do not know what they have to sent emergency has brought home to the minds even of those reluc-
2
much less butter. With this con-
arable land. A decree has already
can fend for himself in the stead-
“BUT HAVE YOU READ ALL THESE?"
a
that
cer-
It may well be difficult for those :) who do not know this quality at first hand to see what it involves and what it does not. That Ger- mans should understand it seems all but impossible. Could they see it with their own eyes, they could hardly believe that this steadiness -considering, moreover, our capa-. city for joking about it-did not involve a shocking callousness to the sufferings of others. Our calm-* ness in crisis-as they will learn too late to benefit by the dis- covery does not mean that we look with indifference on humble. homes blown to bits, on women and children maimed and killed;i: on lightship keepers and other
of brutal
our
the German bankers who have nowhere in evidence. There, is in ingenuity and material on devices followed into Belgium on the heels fact a considerable amount of co-that can never conquer it. of the army. These gentry have operation, willingly given and few illusions about the real state gratefully accepted.
L
Ministries
the..
tant to admit it the truth the blatant attempt to
of affairs and in suitable company are functioning, deprived of their that the two great Eng- frighten the United States have no modesty in expressing chiefs, but still with an experien- situation. If he could only be per- lish-speaking democracies out of support for Britain their doubts. Indeed, they have a ced body of permanent Civil ser suaded to accept responsibility, and in the both stand for a way in both the European and risky job, being expected to make vants: Most of the big bankers form a Government under Ger-
ab economy work which does not and industrialists who are still in man dictation the way of life which is in complete Pacific spheres.
contain the seeds of success with- Belgium are continually consult-future would be simple, The Bel- ed by the Germans. Almost the giur Government in France has in it. contrast to that of Nazi It is noteworthy that first check came quickly. In only major change from the old little following. The King is the Germany, and which is the effect of the merest consultation with the Belgian dispensation is the substitution of only possible alternative. But the threatened by German inkling of a defence policy Central Bank of Issue, the Ger- German military officials for the King has consistently refused to
man financial experts decided to provincial governors. Nothing has cooperate in any way with successes and by any na in common in the Far found a note issue, upon the back been left undone to blacken the Germans. All kinds of personal to bear upon him; tion which would contri- East has been immediate.ing of 25 per cent. of the value of British in Belgian eyes; the same and political pressure have been
all immovable property in the applies in a less degree to the brought bute to those successes. It It is too early too suggest country. This plan proved im French. This has not been difficult promises of a future free Belgium, since the King still holds the when the Hitler victory is an ac- mind is practicable, and for the present affections of the people, and the tuality, with suitable compensa- is therefore imperative that Japan's that the United States made up, one way or the Belgians, except those of the attitude of the Allies and especial- Jon in the north of France for the
except those, who are so and the British Empire, other. For the moment, lucky as to earn a few marks byly of the Pierlot: Government to Coastal strip which it is intended
the royal: capitulation profoundly to form into a German province. working for their masters, is de shocked many Belgians. It has which of course is an however, she finds it ex-rived from hoarded. money now farmed a happy text for German So far the trump card has re- fused to be played, and as long American Power as well pedient to soft-pedal. The coming to light. The stock will
as he continues to refuse German many commodities have to be as an Asiatic, African, bellicosity of last week rapidly dwindle, especially as so propaganda ever since.
The triumphs of Gorman pro-plans for Belgium are doomed to and European Power, has given way to a naive paid for in marks purchasable at paganda are becoming less mark failure. No amount of propa-
an expensive rate of oxchange.
ed as the occupation lengthens. It ganda and no amount of apparent should have a close and air of injured innocence.
was in the first place rather over-willingness to listen to Belgian So far, therefore, so Friends Or Foes? regulated understanding
done, Then the Germans have, as, troubles will turn, aside, the stark yet had no success in capturing facts of economic disaster, Bel-
about the defence of their good. Nobody wants war While the economic side of the the allegiance of the King to the glum is likely to become a grave position in the Pacific, so in the Pacific and none picture is not bright, the political new order of things. He is the ace llability if the war cannot be fu- long jeopardised by Ja-less, surely, than Japan, if aspect is rapidly deteriorating. At of trumps in the political pack of ished in the shortest possible time. the beginning the whole German cards. Unlike Queen Wilhelmina Tempera on both sides are Hable panese policies of aggran- there is any sound judg-propaganda was directed towards and the Grand Duchess n Luxem- to become worn under the rub of disement, and seriously ment left in the counsels making the Belgians feel not too bourg, who have simply been economie necessity. If that does dissatisfied with their lot. The be-ignored by the Germans, King happen the old spirit of defiance menaced as revealed by of her government.
haviour":"of the invading troops.. Leopold is the key to the Belgian is cortain, to reassert itself: