Political Testament: Part II

Here are excerpts from the first section of Leopold's recommendations for Belgium's post-war reconstruction. It is entitled L'entente entre Flamands et Wallons (Good relations between Flemings and Walloons). It shows Leopold's intense concern for a national unity rising above ethnolinguistic differences, and, in particular, for just treatment of the Flemings, who had long been unfairly disadvantaged in Belgian society. Leopold inherited this sensitivity towards the Flemish cause from his father. King Albert I, in the early days of the pro-Flemish movement, at the turn of the 20th century, used to say to his friends: "I sympathize with these Flemings..." After World War I, Albert also favored the development of a Dutch-speaking intellectual centre at the University of Ghent, at a time when Belgian academic circles were dominated by Francophone culture. It is a pity that current Flemish separatists are so hostile to the Belgian monarchy, since the Kings took a lead in protecting Flemish interests.

Assurer définitivement la bonne entente entre Flamands et Wallons sera la tâche primordiale du gouvernement: de son accomplissement dépendra le maintien d'une Belgique indépendante.

Les historiens constateront que de 1914 à 1944 la Belgique a traversé une redoutable crise de 'nationalité'. 

Après une longue période d'inégalités et d'injustices indéniables, nos populations flamandes, fières de leur magnifique passé et conscientes de leurs possibilités futures, ont résolu de mettre un terme aux brimades d'une minorité égoïste et bornée qui se refusait de parler leur langue et à participer à la vie du peuple.

L'incompréhension du Parlement et la lenteur des gouvernements successifs à satisfaire ces aspirations légitimes, ont exaspéré les revendicateurs. Certains en sont venus à vouloir se séparer des Wallons et à maudire la Belgique. Il en est résulté une réaction wallonne dont il serait dangereux de méconnaître la portée. 

Sous prétexte de culture et de langue, nous avons vu et entendu des extrémistes, protégés ou non par l'occupant, travailler délibérément à la destruction de l'Etat belge...

Depuis des temps réculés, Flandre et Wallonie ont partagé des destinées associées par les mêmes intérêts et formé une entité qui a tenu tête, farouchement, à tous les essais d'annexion. Jamis leur union n'a subi de crise approchant celle qui connaît notre génération. 

J'espère que la violence des convulsions auxquelles nous assistons a rendu sensibles aux yeux des bons citoyens certaines réalités dont ils s'étaient trop désintéressés, et recréé la volonté de se resserer autour de drapeau national dans une Belgique nouvelle que Wallons et Flamands, unis sur le pied d'une parfaite égalité, aimeront et serviront avec une même ardeur...

To assure, in a definitive manner, good relations between Flemings and Walloons, will be the first task of the government: it is on this that the maintenance of an independent Belgium will depend.

Historians will find that, from 1914 to 1944, Belgium underwent a formidable crisis of  "nationality." 

After a long period of undeniable inequalities and injustices, our Flemish population, proud of its splendid past, and conscious of its future potential, resolved to put an end to the mistreatment of a blind and selfish ruling minority which refused to speak its language and to participate in the life of the people. 

Parliament's lack of understanding, and the slowness of the successive governments, in satisfying these legitimate aspirations, exasperated those who sought reform. Some, as a result, came to the point of wishing to separate from the Walloons and to doom Belgium. There resulted a Walloon reaction, whose consequences it would be dangerous to underestimate. 

Using the pretext of culture and language, we have seen and heard extremists, sometimes with the protection of the occupier, deliberately working towards the destruction of the Belgian state...

From the distant past, Flanders and Wallonia have shared destinies linked by the same interests and have formed an entity which has fiercely opposed all attempts at annexation. Never has their union suffered a crisis like that which our generation has seen. 

I hope that the violence of the convulsions which we are witnessing has brought, before the eyes of good citizens, certain realities in which they had taken too little interest, and that it has restored the will to rally around the national flag, in a new Belgium which Walloons and Flemings, united on a footing of perfect equality, will love and serve with the same ardor...