BELGIUM: Take It Or Leave It

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Egged on by his Socialist supporters. Premier Paul Emile Janson, who has headed Belgium's coalition Cabinet of Liberals, Socialists and Catholics for the past six months, last week asked for increased taxes to carry on his social reforms. Catholic members, loud in their demands for cuts in Government expenditures, promptly bolted M. Janson's coalition, joined their own bitterest enemies, the pro-Nazi Rexist party of Léon Degrelle, to vote against the tax proposals. M. Janson then chose to resign.

Not anxious to call an election, which would most likely increase Rexist strength, democratic young King Leopold turned over to his good friend, 39-year-old Paul Henri Spaak, moderate Socialist, the task of forming another coalition Cabinet. At week's end Premier-Designate Spaak, Foreign Minister to the Janson Cabinet, had ready a National Union Government of Socialists, Liberals and Catholics. "Take it or leave it," said Spaak. The parties took it.