BUFFER STATE

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 December 1940, Page 9

BUFFER STATE

RE-CREATION OF FLANDERS. A fresh campaign of Nazi lies and distortions in the Low Countries is believed to herald the launching of a plan which would entail the disappearance of Belgium as an independent nation and the creation of a vast vassal State which would act as a buffer between Germany and Britain, wrote a special correspondent in the London “Daily Telegraph.” Reliable information from Belgium supported by comments in the German and Italian Press and broadcasts, indicates, he said, that the Nazis’ aim is to reconstitute the State of Flanders, with notable additions at the expense of Belgium, France, and Holland. The view is taken in Belgium that this move provides proof that Germany has recognised that she cannot bring Britain to her knees by invasion and that she is attempting to build up a barrier against British offensive action. The new State would have a sea coast from the ridge behind Boulogne to the northern Schelde, and including the islands of Southern Zeeland, Calais, Dunkirk, Ostend, Zeebrugge, Flushing, Antwerp, and the Hook of Holland would be the maritime bases, 'and the whole plain of Flanders its air base. It would include, in addition to the Belgian provinces of East and West Flanders, the Belgian province of Antwerp, Belgian and Dutch Limbourg, and a great part of the French northern provinces. The Italian Press and wireless have declared that France will have to restore to Flanders the northern provinces annexed by the Kings of France seven or eight centuries ago. At the same time, German broadcasts have been denouncing the Treaty of Westphalia made in 1648, under which the two Belgian provinces of Flandre Zelandaise and Northern Limbour/g were given to Holland.

BACK TO THE MIDDLE AGES. Germany’s aim seems to be to restore Flanders to the position it oc--cupied in the Middle Ages, when its territory extended on the coast from Calais to the Schelde. The State maintained its independence until the fifteenth century. That the new State would be under the complete subjugation of the Reich is indicated by the fact that the Germans are taking into their service Belgians well known to have been in their pay under the title of Activists during the war of 1914-18.

On July 11 the Germans organised a demonstration at Antwerp to celebrate the occasion of the anniversary of the battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302, when the train-bands of the Flemish citizens crushed the chivalry of France on the plains of Courtraisis. The man the Germans chose to preside at this demonstration, which all Flemish Nationalists were obliged to attend, was Dr. Borms, the traitor condemned to death and pardoned, who accepted the-presidency of the Council of Flanders during the previous occupation. The anti-French character of the demonstration was striking. The Germans took great pains to let loose hvpocritical propaganda with the intention of inciting the Flemish directly against the French and indirectly against the Dutch.