ROBBINS BELGIUM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17329, 18 November 1916, Page 6

ROBBINS BELGIUM.

LIKE COABION BURGLARS. A courier who arrived at Havre from Belgium a. few weeks ago brought details of the arrest of AI. Carher, director of the Antwerp branch and trustee of the National Bank of Belgium. He states that at the beginuing of July a German commissary-general for the banks of Belgium, Herr von Lump, called together the administrative council of the National Bank at Brussels, and spoko to them as follows: .“Gentlemen, 1 am of opinion that you manage the interests of your shareholders very badly. You have in the bank more than 980,000,000 marks, of which 580.000.000 is at Brussels and .400,000,000 at Antwerp, which lie there unproductive, since they remain in your coffers. I desire that you transmit that sum to the large banks at Berlin, where it will remain to your credit at interest to be agreed upon until peace is concluded.” . At this audacious suggestion indignant protests were raised, and M. Earlier strongly denounced the impudence of the Government. The members of the council unanimously refused te agree to the proposal of von Lump. The council, however, derided to send to Brussels 200.000,000 of the 400.000,000 marks which had been allowed to accumulate at Antwerp, and to place the 780.000,000 marks thus collected in specially strong safes, of which tee trustees would have the keys. With regard to the 200,000.000 marks remaining at, Antwerp, the ke.vs_ would be given to AIAt. Earlier and Kveklingo>r,’ who M ould refuse te hand over anything. Thus the Germans would he'obliged, like common burglars, to force the safes in order to carry off the 980.000.000 marks. At the beginning of August von Lump convened the council and demanded that his orders bo executed forthwith. The trustees, however, categorically refused, whereupon he declared that if they would not submit four of them would be arrested and sent to Germany. The threat of von Lump caused a lively discussion,. and the council concluded by saying to von Lump: “Our millions you want to use as a subscription to your future war loan. You need not reckon upon us to give them to you. A~ou won’t have them.” After further threats von Lump, who was furious, left the council. and when AI. Curlier set foot in Antwerp some hours later he was arrested and sent to Aix-la-Chapelle, where he has been imprisoned. j’n financial circles in Belgium there is a. strong belief that the millions which have been stolen will go towards the new German war loan.