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LEOPOLD OF BELGIUM
Since King Leopold's release from captivity In early May the question of his return has become the most disputed topic in Belgium. The extent and vehemence of the controversy have convinced an Increasing number of Belgians that the unity of the country would be seriously Impaired If Leopold were lo reaicend his throne. The King's announced decision not to return Immediately has satisfied neither his supporters nor hisponents- Most Belgians apparently feel that be is using the explanation of ill healtheans ofinal settlement of the issue. Tbe partisan spirit which the Leopold issue has evoked In the country IsIncreasingly to hinder the efforts of the van Acker Oovernrnent to cope with domestic problems of rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Opposition to Leopold's return, prior to his liberation, was largely confined to left-wing Walloon elements. Support for his return wasamong the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, career army officers, former adherents to the prewar fascist parties Rex and VAT, and other conservatives. In the first months following Belgian liberation suchissues as food and fuel supply overshadowed the question of his return. The press refrained from discussing the issue until Leopold's supportersetermined propaganda campaign. Thiseries of severe attacks on Leopold by extremist Walloon papers, while other Belgian Journals debated the advisability of any discussion of the issue until the King should be free and able to defend himself. The debate between the opponents and supporters of the King grew so vehement that neutral papers began openly to discuss the question.esult, pubUc opinion began to swing in favor of Leopold's abdication even before bis release from German captivity. Socialist and Liberal elements tended increasingly to support the Communist oppositionists. Though theParty threatened to withdraw Its support of the van Acker Cabinet unless the Socialists repudiated their General Council's resolution in favor of abdication, progressive Catholic elements came out in support of abdication.
A delegation including Prince Charles (Leopold's brother and the presentremier Acbille van Acker, Foreign Minister Paul-Henri Spaak. and other Cabinet Ministers representing all Belgian political parties went to see Leopold immediately following his release. They found the King sufferingervous condition and report that he wasunaware of the growing opposition to his return. With accustomed stubbornness he apparently resented the advice given him by theseand demanded that he be allowed to consult with his formermany of whom were extreme rightists. This request has been
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granted Relations between Leopold and his brother Charles also are strained, though the latter will not oppose his brother's return. The van Acker Cabinet, despite Its majority opposition to Leopold, has initiated steps to curb extremist press discussion of the Issue pending finalof the King's decision, and Leopold has asked his brother toas Regent for the time being.
Present Indications are that the King will decide either for or against abdication in the near future. If he insists on returning, the present van Acker Cabinet will resign. Leopold's stubbornness, however, may lead him to disregard the opposition and attempt to Justify himself before Parliament oropular vote on the question of his resumption of power. Whatever course he now follows, short of abdication, lt appears probable that he will impair the traditional position of the Belgian Crownymbol of national unity.
If Leopold abdicates, it appears certain that the regency under Prince Charles will be continued until Leopold's eldest son reaches the ageespite the opposition to Leopold the great majority of the Belgiansonarchical form of government. Even theand Socialists seem to regard the monarchyecessary evil. They Join their fellow-countrymen in recognizingountry so sharply divided along religious and national lines must retain anwhich, in theory at least, stands for the whole against the parts
Princeachelor with the reputationan vtvant, showed little interest In politics prior to Belgian liberation and has wide popular support. When faced with deportation to Germanye took to the maquii He is thoroughly pro-Allied and apparently onterms with his Premier and Cabinet
Opposition to Leopold, however, is basedumber ofsome of which stem back as far8 In that year Leopolddirected his country's shiftolicy of military alliance with France to one of neutrality. Though this step met with publicat the time, the fact that he then overstepped the limits of his position as constitutional monarch now Is held against him.
Belgium's capitulation to Germany0 encouraged further charges against him. Though Belgians generally concede that .he could not have prevented the surrender of his armies, many of them still believe that he should have attempted to escape capture by the Germans, as he was then advised by his ministers. Instead of serving in exile as theof Belgian independence,elected as commander in chief to remain In Brussels and surrender his miltary forces. Some Belgians also criticize him for not ordering his soldiers to destroy their equipment which under the circumstances was immediately available for use against the British and French
Leopold's role during the occupation gave rise to furtherew days after capitulation, he urged the Belgian people to go back to work Whether lt was his intention to encourage economic collaboration
with the Germans, his instructions had that effect, and since liberation economic collaborationists bave used Leopold's instructions to excuse having done business with the invader. Leopold is also charged withto give any encouragement to the resistance forces under theand with failure to protest and Intervene with sufficient vigor on behalf of deported Belgian workers.
Behind all these relatively personal accusations, thereirm foundation of political hostility to the King. There can be little doubt that he believed that Germany had won the war and that among his personal entourage thereumber who welcomed this prospect and looked forward to the establishment of an authoritarian regime in Belgium.esult Leopold has become for many liberalymbol ofuthoritarianism, and reaction.
His association with Flamingantlsme (tbe defense of the Flemishating back to prewar days, has incurred the opposition ofHis decision to marryrisoner of war and his selectionommoner as wife earnedair measure of general criticism. The fact that ha marriedime when Walloon soldiers were still prisoners although Flemish prisoners had already been released, further intensified Walloon hostility in particular.
On the other hand, Leopold's supporters among Catholic andcircles praise his decision to remain with his menrave act and argue that he took no positive step to assist the Germans. They maintain that by remaining in the country he insured the maximumfreedom for his people and spared them Nazi administrationauleiter.
Behind such defenses of Leopold's personal actions, however, lie strong political and national motives. The Catholic Church In Belgium has been the King's strongest supporter and closest ally since0 created Belgium. That revolution in partatholic revolt against the Protestant House of Orange. The conservatives of the Catholic Party likewise see in therotector of the traditional social orderulwark against Communism, separatism, and every other form of radicalism.
Until recently the supporters and critics of the King appeared about equally dividedonsiderable body of the peopleeutral position. The Intensity of the current opposition to Leopold, however, appears to be encouraging an increasing number of people of many shades of opinion to regard Leopoldymbol of Belgian division instead of Belgian unity.
Original document.
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