THE FUTURE OF BELGIUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16600, 25 July 1917, Page 6

THE FUTURE OF BELGIUM.

ilf Mr. Lloyd George is correct in ! his inferences from the speech of | Dr. Michaelis to the Reichstag, Ger- , many seeks to hold Belgium in some J sort of vassalage after the war. The I British Prime Minister points out that the retention of Liege and of Antwerp are suggested by the German claim for "guarantees," and ! that, a protectorate over Belgium is I also hinted at as necessary to secure the German frontier against France. ,The opinion of the most capable of modern British statesmen is entitled jto respect, even though it controverts the popular belief that Ger{many is prepared to accept peace I upon less truculent terms. It may j be taken for granted that Mr. Lloyd j George has other sources of information than those available to the public, and is thus able to fill in the I crude outline of policy offered by Dr. Michaelis. Granted that Mr. Lloyd George's views are wellfounded, it follows that the German Government does not regard itself as at the end of its resources, and lis determined to fight to exhaustion J rather than liberate Belgium. On the other hand, since Berlin has never realised the meaning of the J indignation aroused by the violation of Belgian neutrality and by the in- ! famous treatment of the Belgian j people, it is quite possible that the I German Government imagines that | Belgium would be abandoned by the I Allies if its redemption should j threaten an indefinite prolongation jof the struggle. In any case, the I question provides one of the unmisI takable tests of victory. If Bel- ! gium cannot be completely and unequivocally liberated and compensaI tion obtained for the tremendous ini juries wilfully inflicted upon it, vici tory will lie with the Germans and I not with the Allies.