BELGIUM 



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BELGIUM 



HE STORY OF BELGIUM 



Historic houses, Bruges 



ELGIUM, one of the smallest coun- 

 tries in Europe, but one that has stood in the 

 very front rank among the states of the world 

 by its achievements in all the arts of peace, 

 progress and civilization. Belgium attained 

 this position in a very short time, for not until 

 1830 did it become an independent country. 

 But the Belgian nation is not a new nation. 

 The people that inhabit this country have a 

 long history and have played a prominent part 

 in the development of the civilization of 

 Europe. Caesar, in commenting on the valor 

 of his various enemies, gave first place to the 

 Belgae (Belgians). Its noblemen, such as God- 

 frey of Bouillon and Baldwin of Flanders, were 

 leaders of several of the Crusades (which see). 

 The first industrial activity in Northern Europe 

 was developed in the cities of this country. 

 The guild system of the medieval towns orig- 

 inated first in Flanders, and was introduced 

 afterwards into England, France and Germany. 

 Belgium had long been famous for its historic 

 cities, its beautiful medieval buildings and its 

 priceless art treasures. Its art, the expression 

 of the ideals of the people, is indeed unique. 



After a successful revolution in 1830 Bel- 

 gium was recognized as an independent country 

 by the Great Powers. The extent and boun- 

 daries of the country to 1914 were determined 

 by the Treaty of London, signed April 19, 1839, 

 in which the Great Powers, namely, Great 

 Britain, France, Prussia, Austria, and Russia 

 guaranteed the independence and neutrality of 

 Belgium. Before the Franco-German War of 

 1870, both France and Prussia, at the request 

 of England, pledged themselves to respect this 

 neutrality. 



Since Belgium gained its independence it has 

 developed an extensive manufacturing industry 

 and an enormous trade. From being at that 

 time a poverty-stricken nation, it developed 

 into one of the lending nations of the world, 

 joining in that capacity such old banker-nations 

 as the English, French and Dutch. For many 

 years its surplus capital was invested in enter- 

 prises all over the world. 



The progress of the country had been steady 

 and continuous until the fateful day in August, 

 1914, when the War of the Nations broke out. 

 Suddenly Belgium, that had no part in any 

 European quarrel and had absolutely nothing 

 to gain by taking up arms, was confronted with 

 the choice of either granting the demand of 

 Germany to pass through the country, as an 

 easy way of invading France, or of protecting 

 its independence and neutrality. Although a 

 small nation, Belgium, true to the lofty politi- 

 cal idealism and the spiritual traditions of its 

 people, chose the latter course. 



Under the guidance of its ruler, King Albert, 

 Belgium decided to fight in defence of its 

 honor, its historic heritage of freedom, and 

 the right to be mistress in its own house (see 

 ALBERT). But the country had to pay a heavy 



LOCATION MAP 



price for this decision, for it became once 

 more the battle-ground of Europe, the early 

 scene of the greatest and most destructive war 

 in human history. Its beautiful country has 

 been devastated, its villages razed to the 

 ground, many of its historic monuments and 

 art treasures destroyed, its ancient seats of 

 learning rendered desolate, and its people 

 driven from their homes to seek refuge in 

 foreign lands. No greater tragedy has ever 



