CONDEMNATION OF KING’S ACTION

Southland Times, Issue 24138, 29 May 1940, Page 7

CONDEMNATION OF KING’S ACTION

The French Prime Minister (M. Paul Reynaud), broadcasting, told the French people that a very grave event had happened during the night. King Leopold of the Belgians had laid down his arms and France could no longer rely on the help of Belgium. “The Belgian Army laid down its arms by order of its King—the same King who appealed to the Allies to come to his help, the same King who last year refused staff talks with the Allies, the same King who until May 10 professed equal faith in the word of Germany as- in the word of the Allies; this same King, without a word of gratitude or admiration for the Allied soldiers, has now handed over the Belgian Army to the invader,” said M. Reynaud. “Since 4 o’clock this morning the French and British armies alone have been opposing the enemy. “Our armies have been divided into two groups,” he said. “The French Army is fighting on the Somme. The other group consists of the Belgian Army, the British Expeditionary Force and some French divisions under the command of General Blanchard. Without consideration, without a word to the French or British soldiers, King Leopold has given up the fight. This is an event unprecedented in history. The Belgian Government has informed me that the King took this decision against the unanimous advice of his Ministers. His decision was taken in strict contradiction of the feeling of his country and the soldiers, who have been fighting magnificently.”

M. Reynaud, describing the position in the north before the Belgian capitulation, said that the group of three Allied armies was provisioned through Dunkirk. The British and French armies defended Dunkirk in the south and west and the Belgian Army defended it in the north. “Now the Belgiap Army, under the order of its King, has suddenly and unconditionally capitulated in the midst of the battle, opening the road to Dunkirk to the German divisions,” said M. Reynaud.

M. Reynaud concluded fervently: “Misfortune has ever made France greater. On the new line which our great leader, General Weygand, in accord with Marshal Petain, has established on the Somme and the Aisne we shall hold out and conquer.” He added that the French were holding successfully the lines on the Somme and the Aisne and the Maginot Line.

M. Reynaud spoke for under five minutes. He praised the young French generals who, just succeeding their seniors, had already covered themselves with glory.

After M. Reynaud’s broadcast a crowd of men and women of all ages gathered outside the Belgian Embassy in London. Belgian exservicemen, on the verge of tears, said: “I cannot understand it. Why have we stopped fighting?” The Belgian Ambassador, looking very worried, arrived at the Embassy alone and gave instructions that he must not be disturbed.