KING LEOPOLD

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23321, 3 October 1945, Page 5

KING LEOPOLD

Proclamation To People To Reside Near Geneva (7.30 p.m.) BERNE, October 2. King Leopold, his family and suite last night crossed the Swiss border from Austria on the W'ay to a villa near Geneva, where he is taking up residence. “I am conscious of having loved my country with all my soul, and having served it as man and as King,” said King Leopold in a proclamation to the Belgian people from Salzburg. "On the eve of my departure for Switzerland, where I shall await silently the nation's verdict at the elections, I wish to address you in

all sincerity. I have the right to affirm—one day proof will- be given you—of the passive resistance .which I maintained and prevented Belgium negotiating with the tempo-, rarily victorious Germany. I held throughout the occupation to a line of conduct which I decided at the time of capitulation, namely, to refuse to negotiate in any way with the enemy, to do nothing to allow anything to be done which could harm the military, political or economic interests of the noble nations whose armies answered our call. I'sent on May 25, 1940, a letter to the King of England in which I engaged my honour to this end. I never failed in it.”