THE CLAIMS OF BELGIUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17101, 5 March 1919, Page 6

THE CLAIMS OF BELGIUM.

The territorial claims of Belgium which',:-,are'., arousing political and military excitement in Holland are those Relating to Limburg and the Scheldt. On the surface it might appear that , Belgium .was guilty. of an unwarrantable aggression in demanding -the cession of portions of Holland, but there is a good deal of reason in the case made out by the Belgians, who are quite agreeable that the decision should be left, to the Peace' Congress, and are considerably less bellicose .over the matter than the Dutch, v All -the territorial claims of Belgium rest on the proposition that as the Powers were unable *to' protect the neutrality, of the State, they should free from it and .restore; her powers ofr:self-defence. ■ There were no treaty restrictions on Belgian armaments, but Belgians now : believe that the mere guarantee of neutrality given by the Powers ' lulled them'into a false sense' of security and operated, in effect, to keep the Belgian army ' weak. There certainly were severe treaty restrictions on the Belgian frontier, which throughout is unsuitable for defence. To'strengthen' it,' Belgium asks that Luxemburg shall' be united to her, that the border.; towards .Germany be rectified so as to Restore the districts;; of Eupen and Malmedy to Belgium, .; aad. that Holland I should relinquish Limburg and the ; left bank of tho Scheldt. The claim to Luxemburg is based on historical association, to Eupen and Malmedy on the sympathies of the inhabitants, and to Limburg and the, Scheldt on strategic necessity and treaty rights. Belgians argue that when Holland received the left bank of the Scheldt and a portion of Limburg in 1839 it was assumed that she would be powerful enough to protect Belgian neutrality, and that .these territories were actually granted to her in order to make her strong enough to fill that role. It is now a matter of history that she could not, and did not even try. Belgium asks that she be released from the obligations of a neutrality which has proved no protection to her- and that she bo given a frontier capable of defence. For the Scheldt she makes the strong case that its control by the Dutch renders impossible the provisioning and consequently the defence of Antwerp. The fact that Holland permitted the Germans when in retreat to traverse Limburg is also a point against.the Dutch. The Peace Congress may not take precisely • the same view as the Belgians, but it will be difficult to resist the argument that neutrality should be lifted from • Belgium and that her frontier, should be rectified so as to give her 'a. reasonable degree of security. In' the words of King Albert treaties did, not protect Belgium from a criminal attack, and her part in ;the; war' '-now entitles her to settle her destinies according to her - needs • and., aspirations -. in complete sovereignty.;, •<_,'• .<■■■,;. .'r^m^W-'M^■.