HEROIC MAYOR

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 181, 2 August 1941, Page 9

HEROIC MAYOR

INVADERS DEFIED BURGOMASTER OF BRUSSELS [ (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday. A Press Association cablegram from London on Wednesday stated that anti-German demonstrations on a vast scale took place on Belgium's National Day, July 21, in Brussels, and were particularly bitter after the arrest of the Burgomaster, Dr. van der Meulebroucke. Commenting on this, the Consul-General for Belgium in New Zealand, M. Nihotte, states that the present first magistrate of Brussels is a worthy successor of the late Burgomaster Max, as was made evident by the following proclamation issued by van der Meulebroucks on June 30. of which M. Nihotte has received a copy:— Convention Violated "My Dear Fellow Citizens: The German authorities have just informed me I am to cease exercising my functions. I cannot do otherwise than submit to this order, although legally it constitutes a violation of the Hague' Convention and in actual fact there is no justification for the action taken in my case. I have, indeed, the consciousness of having loyally and efficiently fulfilled the many duties, invariably heavy and disagreeable, which fall to the lot of those in authority in towns and districts occupied by' the enemy. "It was proposed to me that I should continue to exercise my functions, but in such conditions as would imply my personal participation in the execution of measures which violate the law of May 10, 1940. To submit would have meant trampling underfoot honour and duty and disobeying one of the fundamental laws of our country, which I have sworn to obey. I refused. Contrary to what is being said, I did not quit my post. I have not tendered my resignation. I am and shall always remain the only lawful Burgomaster of Brussels. All that is being done and may be done in the future in the application of the above decrees is without legal foundation. "Meet Challenge of Fate." "I shall not bid you good-bye, but au revoir. In leaving you for the time being I ask you to bear your misfortunes and sufferings with steadfast courage and confidence. You will meet the challenge of fate with a strong will and a proud heart. Those who are true sons of our race fear nothing and nobody. Rest united. Our union will "be our strength, and our guarantee of a happier future. God will defend Belgium and her King." This proclamation was pasted on walls in Brussels and twice torn down by the Germans. Dr. van der Meulebroucke is now in a concentration camp in Germany.