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Show PICTURE PARADE Belgium Straddles the Fence, Hoping to Maintain Neutrality V Brvssels E L G I U M v SIH OF GERMAN I Ue99 V INVASION IN 1914 -V f , f ff LUXEM- f J s JL. BOURG " v j s i Kj 7 :::'" Of all the httle nations in Europe, Belgium has tried the hardest to preserve her neutrality, yet her job is also the hardest. Hemmed m between warring Germany and France on two sides, her soil easily violated, the land which suffered so severely in 1914 has shunned overtures from both the allies and Germany under the well-considered foreign policy of youthful King Leopold, outlined just two years ago when war clouds first began appearing over Europe: "Any one-sided policy would only weaken our position . . . Even in case of a defensive treaty we would have to parry the first attack. It is true that, once we were overrun, the intervening powers would assure the final victory, but the fight would devastate the country far beyond the destruction of 1914-18. For this reason we must follow a 'purely and entirely Belgian policy.' This policy must aim to prevent the quarrels of our neighbors." King Leopold (above) broke his treaty with France because history told him his country had often been the battlefield for wars between France and her enemies. Moreover, he vividly remembered the horrors of the last war when his father, the great King Albert (below), found himself helpless against German invasion. In 1914 and 1915 it was "bleeding Belgium" whose cause was so loudly shouted by the allies in seeking support from neutral nations. iYo doubt the Belgian "atrocities" were highly magnified by propa ganda, but the invasion inva-sion was nevertheless unhappy for Belgium. Belgi-um. The photo below shows German soldiers sol-diers making themselves them-selves comfortable in an estate near Liege in 1914, typical of the indignities Belgium has suffered throughout through-out the centuries. ganda, but the inva- sion was nevertheless ' f-'-'h-)- unhappy for Belgi- yf fVlv urn. The photo below A- y 1 X shows German sol- ? diers making them- f s C ' x " VN settles comfortable in ' f " an estate near Liege t ' oK: -iVfJl in 1 914, typical of the - ; , 'R'l indignities Belgium fe-, -S0 V ',l '1 has suffered through- YJ out the centuries. vV1 f f 1 XtA i. To prevent recur- - rence, Belgium stays I&"vlS neutral, yet is ready t CV l rt to protect neutrality YfC "1M- 3 with force. All fron- Frf- N a " I tlcrs forts pat- f i HXf 1 terned aftei the Mag. 2$ ' I V1 f inot line. Her arms is X rTC hk T CuTVn best- X VTii l4p,it- 41 though small. But can W ' 4 'flSSS JJW Belgium stay neutral J H"i& under pressure? Only f'' time Can tC' To prevent recurrence, recur-rence, Belgium stays neutral, yet is ready to protect neutrality with force. All frontiers fron-tiers have forts patterned pat-terned after the Mag-mot Mag-mot line. Her arms is one of Europe's best, though small. But can Belgium stay neutral under pressure? Only time can tell. |