BELGIUM: King's Rebuff

In Brussels the escape of King Leopold III from the Nazis caused neither joy nor sorrow, but considerable embarrassment. The Socialist Party demanded that the King stay out of Belgium. The Catholic Party declared that if Leopold was kept out it would leave the Cabinet, in which it holds the balance of power.

To Salzburg rushed a Cabinet deputation, joined by Foreign Minister Paul-Henri Spaak, breathless from his dash home from the San Francisco Conference. Leopold's brother, the Regent Prince Charles, also went along. Spaak urged Fabian tactics: the Socialists wanted Leopold to abdicate, the Liberals wanted him to rule—might it not be better for the King to prolong his exile just a little longer until Belgians could make up their minds?

King Leopold listened. Then he wrote a letter to his brother, the Regent: the King's health, impaired by German imprisonment, did not permit him to return at once to Belgium; would Prince Charles continue to act as regent? Leopold was able to deliver the letter in person since Prince Charles stayed on as a house guest.