BELGIUM RE-BORN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15270, 19 July 1920, Page 9

BELGIUM RE-BORN.

A special Belgian edition of thc London Times issued last month gives a great deal of interesting information about the restoration of that nation. It contains also many war reminiscence;*. Among the records is one about the Congo. After Germany invaded Belgium a question arose whether the Belgian Congo was involved, That territory was exposed to German attack. Local authorities m the Congo cabled Ihe Government for instructions, whether iney were to be neutral or consider tne <termans as enemies. The Minister of thc Colonies referred the matter to experts, m International law. While counsel were studying the question it became, necessary for the Congo authorities to act. The matter was placed before the King, who at once took the responsibility of causing, a despatch to be sent to the Congo Belgians to treat the Germans as enemies, and co-operate m Africa with ihe. British and French. The Times says that the decision of the King was given m five mhiutes.

To the Times publication the venerable Cardinal Mercier contributes an article on Louvain, giving some account of the

rare books and manuscripts destroyed. These Included a codex of the eleventh century, the Codex Perensis of the fifteenth century, manuscripts by Thomas n Kenipis, more than a thousand incunabula, the finest of their kind, and The original papal bull of 1425 creating The university. There were 300,000 volumes of books'. Yet a German professor was found to value the loss, who , reported that for "100.000 marks the library of Louvain could be restored m much better condition than tho one which was burned down."

Descriptions given by Belgian wrilers of the, restoration of the country aro full of courage nnd hope. Belgium, once the richest country on the European Continent, is coming to her own again. The intellectual leaders of Belgium do not sigh over* thc destruction of ordinary property. Their gr-lpf and indignation is reserved for the destraction of glories that can never be restored. :