Word: belgian
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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...none in their alarm at the now chronic reluctance of young men to enlist in the British Army (TIME, Nov. 30 et ante), the alleged advice of Herr von Ribbentrop to Herr Hitler was really too much for them to stomach. In London last week being feted was Belgian Premier Professor Paul van Zeeland, and his English hosts had to do or say something. Up at an International Chamber of Commerce luncheon for Premier van Zeeland got handsome and willowy young Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden to utter words braver and bolder than he has ever used in the House...
...this Anglo-Belgian occasion," cried Mr. Eden, "once again affirm that the independence and integrity of Belgium is a vital consideration for this nation, and that Belgium could count upon our help were she ever the victim of unprovoked aggression...
...Belgium last week the vaguely liberal Cabinet of Premier-Professor Paul van Zeeland was physically threatened by sleek and slim young Leon Degrelle and his Rexists, the newly potent Belgian Catholic-Fascist movement which takes its name from Chrisfus Rex. The Rexist newsorgan, Rex, had just boldly admitted that M. Degrelle had visited Berlin a few weeks before. Doubtless emboldened by Nazi bigwigs, he openly threatened last week to bring 250,000 Rexists on chartered trains to Brussels and "sweep out the van Zeeland Government!" This Rexist rashness caused Belgium's Premier to forbid the railways...
Boldly Belgium's would-be Dictator issued a statement last week for the first time clarifying his ideals and objectives. "Rexism is a sacred mission arising out of Belgium's traditional Catholicism!" he proclaimed. "I am more a brother of the Spanish Catholic than of the Belgian Communist. I sent Rexist troops to aid General Franco and I treasure his words thanking me for my part in saving Spain...
While young King Leopold III of the Belgians is no Rexist, His Majesty's speech drawing Belgium out of any close alliance with France (TIME, Oct. 26) was music to the ears of M. Degrelle. Some, not many, of the King's immediate entourage are Rexists. His Majesty's sister is the Crown Princess of Italy and quite simply the Belgian Royal Family have an impression that Catholicism combined with Fascism makes for social stability and is perhaps the best antidote to Communism in a Europe in which Democracy has been slipping...