BELGIAN CRISIS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29402, 3 January 1961, Page 9

BELGIAN CRISIS

Decisive Stage Near (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) BRUSSELS, Jan. 2. Belgium’s 13-day-old strike is expected to move today towards its decisive phases, after a partial lull over the New Year week-end.

The Socialist-led campaign against the Government’s austerity bill to make good losses in the Congo is likely to reach its peak tomorrow during nationwide mass demonstrations as Parliament resumes discussion on the proposals. Socialist Party and trades union leaders are meeting in Brussels today to discuss tactics for the crucial phases of their battle against the Catholic-Lib-eral coalition Government.

A party leader said the meeting might have political consequences "since the Walloon section of the party is under pressure to take extreme positions.” Tiie organisation. I’Action Wollonne (Walloon Action!, draws its members from Belgium’s southern “red belt”—the major stronghold of the strike—and includes a number of federalists who urge a division of the country between the Flemish-speak-ing north and the French-speak-ing south. Observers in Brussels placed last week’s violence in the capital, in which one striker was killed, mainly at the door of the southern extremists.

Socialist sources said last night that 52 trade unionists had been arrested in the last 24 hours in what appeared to be a police drive to smash the strikes.

Brussels police said "several dozen people—including some foreigners” had been detained last week. Four French trade unionists from Dunkirk were arrested in Antwerp and later expelled from the country.