GERMANY AND BELGIUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16823, 13 April 1918, Page 2 (Supplement)

GERMANY AND BELGIUM.

I * ' DIRECT PROOF OF SINISTER AIMS. I 1 Tiu: Belgian Government has obtained ' direct proof of the aims pursued by GerI many in establishing, against the will of the population, the administrative separation of Flemings and Walloons. An imI portant document has fallen into its hands. j It is the text of confidential instructions ' given to the personnel of the German army Jin Flanders. These instructions are dated I from Brussels, September, 1917. They , contain :— I "1. Prejudiced information with regard j to the history and social situation of the ! Flemings. 2. Statement on tho advantages | to bo gained by Germany by exploiting the ■ language question in order to further her j political amis. 3. Explanation of tho . tactics carried out in the interests of Geri many by the so-called ' Council of I Flanders. 4. Rules to be followed by I Germans billettcd in Flanders." I The following striking phrases occur :— j " Administrative separation is now on the road to completion. German agree ment with the Flemish movement is ap- ! proved of and ordered by His Majesty the German Emperor. It iB, therefore, the duty of every German to uphold it with all his power. German policy in the occupied territory. is a policy of preparation. Tho political status to be given eventually to Flanders and Wallonia will be decided in the future. Consequently every individual German must hold aloof from any divergence, of opinion which may occur among the Flemings as to tho ultimate aim of administrative separation, and must stick to the official utterances of the Imperial Government on the subject." The document ends with this assertion, revealing the whole of the policy now pursued by Germany towards Belgium — "It is tho duty of every German, as a German and as a soldier, to do his share that Flanders, reconquered by Germanism and turning to Germany, may be tho security for the western flank of the Empire in the future" These instructions unmask the duplicity of Germany, and show at the same time the unshakable patriotism of the Flemings, who, in spite of the attempts made during three vears to gain their sympathy, have constantly repulsed the German offers and have never ceased to claim the restoration of an independent and united Belgium.