LITTLE KNOWN COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 88, 15 April 1939, Page 5 (Supplement)

LITTLE KNOWN COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD

LUXEMBURG

Luxemburg was part of the great Holy Roman Empire from 963 to 1443. From then to 1506 it was part of the dominions of the powerful Duke of Burgundy. It next fell beneath the domination of Spain until the Austrians became overlords. They were in their turn replaced by the French under Napoleon.

After the defeat of the French, at Waterloo and the exile of Napoleon, Luxemburg was created a grand duchy with the King of the Netherlands as its ruler. The next important event was the Belgian revolution, which brought about independence for the Belgians. King William of the Netherlands, recognised Belgian independence, but Luxemburg suffered by the settlement between the two nations.

Half of the grand duchy was ceded to Belgium to become the Belgian Province of Luxembourg. The other half retained its independence under the overlordship of King William. This was the position for more than 50 years. Then King William IH., ruler of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxemburg, died. The heir to the Dutch throne was Queen Wilhelmina, who succeeded in 1890. A woman, however, could not become ruler of Luxemburg, so the little country had to find a new Grand Duke. The title came to the Grand Duke Adolphus, who had to go back 700 years to prove his connection with the line from which Luxemburg's rulers had sprung.

This really meant real independence for Luxemburg, for hitherto it had been subject to the overlordship of other, powerful nations. The next Grand Duke, Adolphus' son, had no son* but several daughters. He did not want the throne to pass out of his direct family, eo he amended the law, providing for the succession to pass to his eldest daughter, the Grand Duchess Marie Adelaide. Thus was changed the law that had prevented Queen Wilhelmina from becoming ruler of Luxemburg 30 years before. Marie Adelaide had been the ruler of Luxemburg only two years when the Great" War broke out. Her people were not greatly disturbed by the rumour of war, for they had the^

protection of a treaty signed by Germany, France, Great Britain and other Powers in 1867 which gave a guarantee that the neutrality of the little country would be respected. They felt themselves safe behind their ramparts of paper, but a rude shock was coming to them.

At the beginning of August, 1914, German troops were seen to be massing on the far bank of the River Moselle (boundary between Luxemburg and Germany) opposite the tw4 main bridges across the river. Luxemburg had no army and no fortifications. It could not defend itself and its Government was powerless. On August 2 the grand duchy was invaded. This peaceful country was used as a road t<» France.

The Germans seized the railways, occupied the towns, took over factories, which were turned into munition works, and took food and provender for horses without payment. Many people were imprisoned and more than a few shot.

The Govarnment protested to Berlin against the invasion. The reply was that the French had violated the neutrality oi Luxemburg, and for that reason Germany had been compelled to march in. This was, of course, untrue. The sole reason for the invasion was that Luxemburg, unfortified and . rich in mineral and agricultural resources, presented an easy road into France.

Within a week of the invasion the German Emperor himself had taken up his quarters in the capital of the grand duchy, also called Luxemburg. To the horrified surprise of the people, the German Emperor and his officers were warmly received by Marie Adelaide. She entertained them at a banquet and drank toasts to "the success of the noble German army." She paid several visits to German rulers during the war, but most upsetting of all to her subjects was that she permitted the engagement of one of her sisters to Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria when he was in command of German troops fighting against the Belgians. .

This behaviour was not forgotten when French and American troops drove the Germans from the grand duchy in November, 1918. 'The Government immediately deprived Marie Adelaide of her powers and

Luxemburg, liny Grand Duchy with a population not much more than that of Auckland, has already experienced the disadvantages of its position as a buffer between France,. Germany and Belgium. In defiance of treaties, it Was invaded by the German armies in 1914 and occupied throughout the war. Its people hav\t good cause to remember the horrors of those terrible four and a half years, so that, with the present uncertainty in Central Europe, the Luxemburgers must be very worried people indeed.

This did not at all suit Belgium. The Belgians accused France of intriguing to bring about a result favourable to her in the 'plebiscite. So seriously did this strong feeling threaten the good relations between France and Belgium that France decided not to accept the request of Luxemburg for a closer union. The result-was a linking up with Belgium. In 1921 the Government of Luxemburg passed a bill for an economic union with Belgium.

Tills agreement, which 5a for 50 years, provides for the disappearance of the Customs barrier between the two countries and the use of Belgian money in the grand duchy. Belgium has also lent Luxemburg money at a low rate of interest and assists in the management of the railways. The peaceful folk of the grand duchy are prosperous again. There are only 299,000 of them, and their little country has an area of but 999 square miles, being 50 miles long by 37 miles wide at its greatest breadth. The people are very similar to the Belgians, being . industrious and stern. .'-

About a third of the population is engaged-in. farming arid the others are employed in Luxemburg's thriving industries. The grand duchy is particularly rich in minerals. Its annual output of iron ore is about 4,000,000 tons and -the foundries turn out

forced her abdication, which took place in January, 1919. Marie Adelaide went to Italy and entered a convent, where she died in 1924.

The throne passed to the deposed ruler's sister, the Grand Duchess Charlotte. She is now 43 years of age. She married on November 6, 1919, Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma, and the birth of a son, Prince Jean, secured the future of the succession in the male line.

After the war the people of Luxemburg, disgusted with the conduct of Marie Adelaide, decided to vote on the future of their country —whether it should be a grand duchy or a republic. They also voted on whether Luxemburg should attach itself to France or Belgium as protector and economic partner. The people, strong in their loyalty to the Grand Duchess Charlotte and her House, elected to keep Luxemburg an independent monarchy. They also chose to link up economically with France.

nearly 700,000 tons of steel. Other industries are tanning, linen and woollen goods.

The capital city of Luxemburg has a population not much bigger than that of Hamilton. It is a fine city with a number of impressive public buildings, including the Grand Duca! Palace, the Town Hall and a fine Cathedral.

The people of the little grand duchy elect a Parliament just as we do in New Zealand. There are 54 members, who, are elected for six years. They govern the country with the assistance of the Grand Duchess, who. chooses the Executive Council and presides at its meetings. There is also a Council of State, members of which are appointed by the Grand Duchess for life. They pass opinion on the measures of the Parliament and correspond to the Legislative Council in New Zealand. Perhaps of all the tiny independent States that we have discussed so far in this series Luxemburg is the most likely to lose its independence. Its defenceless position is too dangerous, and in self-protection it may be forced to attach itself to one of its powerful neighbours.

FIGHTING A PARASITE.

A strange way of dealing with the parasites of fruit trees has been found by the United States Board of Agriculture. It recommends shooting them.

. A gun has been invested to shoot at a parasite-infected tree with » wad of cotton. The cotton is saturated with an insect, or parasitekilling, powder. On ite path, the wad breaks up at the right moment, scattering its poison in * cloud en the tree, its twigs and leaves.

The advantage of the invention is that the marksman can bombard the tree, but' ie himeelf well removed from the dangerous duet he Bpreade.