KING LEOPOLD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 130, 17 March 1950, Page 3

KING LEOPOLD

RETURN TO THRONE DECISION RESTS WITH PARLIAMENT i N.Z.P. A.—Copyright) (Rec. 12.0) BRUSSELS, March 16. Only the decision of Parliament —in which the Royalists hold a majority—stands between King Leopold and the Throne from which he was .provisionally exiled five years ago. Following a nationwide referendum on March 12, which have a vote of 57.6 per cent, in his favour, King Leopold said to-day that he would bow to the decision of Parliament. This statement was issued after King Leopold’s three-day consultations with Belgian Catholic and Liberal Ministers at Geneva. The Belgian Prime Minister, M. Eyskens, who is now returning to Belgium, said he did not know' when Parliament would vote. King Leopold said: “Whatever decision Parliament may take, I will bow before it. If the Assembly considers my prerogative should liot be returned, I will retire in order to preserve the country from serious political disorders. If my prerogative is returned, I will demand that everyone respects it.”

Prince Baudouin, King Leopold’s 19-year-old son, is believed to have attended the Geneva talks. Prince Baudouin would succeed to the Throne if King Leopold abdicated. Earlier to-day the four leading Liberal politicians invited by King Leopold to join the talks on last Sunday’s referendum flew to Geneva by special plane. \ " ' . ! Before the King can return to the Throne, a joint session of both Houses •of Parliament must be held and vote to repeal the legislation passed in 1945, which established a/regency. Both Houses separately must first approve of the holding of a joint session. . The Associated Press correspondent says that if King Leopold returns to the Throne without announcing his intention of abdicating, he is sure to meet the opposition of all the country’s Socialists forces.