14 DECEMBER 1918, Page 3

M. Paul Hyraans, the Belgian Foreign Minister, stated last week

that Belgium would ask at the Peace Conference for the revision of the Treaty of 1839. This Treaty gave part of Limburg to Holland and part of the province of Liege to Prussia, and erected part of Luxemburg into a Grand Duchy, whose dynasty has unhappily shown itself pro-German. Further, the Treaty confirmed the old Dutch claim to the sole control of the Lower Schelde, which pre- vented us from sending warships and transports to Antwerp in 1914. Belgium wishes these arrangements to be reconsidered. Her sufferings in the cause of civilization entitle her to a friendly hearing.