BELGIUM: Rexist Rashness

In 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 to run the chartered trains. Disgruntled Rex declared that such Rexists as assembled would not bear arms, headlined’ “YOU WANT DEAD BODIES, M. VAN ZEELAND. BUT YOU WILL NOT GET THEM!”

With 60,000 Rexists already in Brussels the air of the Capital was grim on Sunday. Armed police and cavalry lurked down every side street. After service at St. Gudule’s Cathedral, emerging adherents of Christus Rex jampacked the Cathedral Square. Suddenly a window flew open and Rexist Degrelle made what he called a “Proclamation.” Unfurled were two huge Rexist flags showing “the Black Crown of Christ the King” on a red field. The crowd roared “Rex will conquer! Long live Degrelle!” At this Premier van Zeeland’s cavalry charged out of side streets, slashing with their sabres in the reckless fashion of Romanov Cossacks.

The Rexist throng, disappointing their leader with a turnout of only 5,000, fought with walking sticks to which they had secured razor blades. As fast as police drove Rexists from one square they would rush off down side streets shouting the name of the next square in which they proceeded to meet police charges. Sporadic shots killed nobody, but 78 were injured, nearly 300 briefly jailed.

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.

“We will be bringers of peace to Europe. Our mission is to harmonize Germany and France. We are through with following France. I love that country, and it was only an accident that I was born in Belgium for my birthplace is two miles from the French frontier. My parents are French, so is my wife.

”But France under the People’s Front Government makes my heart bleed. France’s present government will not last. The country will be obliged to follow us. It requires only Belgium-Rexist Belgium to close the circle around her. Germany, Spain, Italy and soon Belgium-all Fascist!”

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.