CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY.*
CARDINAL MBROIER'S story of his relations with the German Administration in Brussels is one of the-mostremarkable records thrown up by any war. Belgians during -their test of suffering did nob sit down and weep like Israel in captivity, but kept themselves, as it were,-in-training, and with a stout heart looked confidently to ultimate victory and relief. Two eminent Belgians did more than any other two men to maintain this spirit. They were Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines, and M. Max, the Burgomaster of Brussels—the two M.'s, who also happened to be Men of the first order.
Cardinal Mercier's book is very wisely arranged. It sets out in full the lettere which he wrote to the German adminis- trators and the letters which he reeeived in reply. Very. few of the long .string of documents .seem to have been lost. We thus have an almost complete chain of evidence showing •the exact -degree of tension at any given moment, and the polite- ness, disguised threats, remonstrance or cajolery which -the Germans thought fit to employ at particular junctures. The impression we get .of history being enacted before our eyes is never once- spoiled by afterthoughts which, of course, might have been introduced if Cardinal Mercier had told his story in paraphrase, merely using documents for the refreshment,-of his memory. The letters are joined together by just the necessary amount of explanation. -The principal -figure on the German side is, naturally, the Governor-General, Baron von Biasing. Although Baron von. Biasing behaved hatefully because he was the instrument of a hateful system, his letters are generally courteous and often dignified. There was a decline in the manner of the correspondence .on the Germanrside when he died and was succeeded by Baron von. Falkenhausen. The-latter was always much more direct and even brutal. But his letters are few, and to our mind by far the most curious and interesting documents in the book are the exchanges of opinion between Cardinal Meroier and. Baron von der Lancken, Head of the German Political Department, who used to write on Baron Falkenhausen's behalf. All through the book one has a feeling that one is assisting at a fencing match. Able men were engaged in the bitter sport, and some of -the thrusts and parries were brilliant. Baron von Biasing was a sound fencer ; Baron von Falkenhausen was a heavy imager ; Baron von der Lancken fenced with patience and subtlety. Baron von der Laneken was always perfectly self-possessed. He was frigid, no doubt, and therefore disagreeable, but he never threatened or hectored ; he enjoyed an argument for its own sake, and, reading between the lines, we _cannot help seeing that some- times he did not in the least believe in his case. Occa- sionally his disputes with Cardinal Mercier pass ihto the realms of philosophy, large questions of right and wrong are discussed en general principles, and if there is any- thing-stranger in the annals of official correspondence between conquerors and conquered, we have not come across it. In the end Cardinal Mercier won handsomely against all his opponents, and-there is no more splendid tribute to him than the final German acknowledgment of defeat. On October 17th, 1918, Baron von der Lancken handed to Cardinal Mercier the following note :— " You are in our estimation •the incarnation of occupied Belgium of which you are the -venerated and trusted pastor. For this reason, it is to you that the Governor-General and my government also have commissioned me to come and to announce that when we evacuate your soil we wish to hand over to you unasked and of our own free-will the political prisoners serving their time either in Belgium or in Germany."
Cardinal Mercier never varied in his conception• of what was the proper and justifiable attitude on the part of the Belgians. He describes that attitude again- and again in different words, but always precisely to the same effect. In an interview with Baron von der. Lancken, he said :— " I do not doubt the Governor-General's [Baron von Bissing's] sincerity. When I had the honour of seeing him, he spoke
• Cardinal Meroida Own Story. By his Eminence D. J. Cardinal Mercier. Archbishop of Mantles. Introduction by Professor Fernand Mayence. Prefa- tory ug hto Let 25
ter bys. his Eminence James Cardinal gibbons. London: Hodder and
Ston. [ net.] with an accent of sincerity which I believed then and believe still. But between him and us there is a fundamental mis- understanding. • He would wish to see us submissive, and we claim the right to remain interiorly, in heart and soul, uncon- quered. We respect your external regulations in so far as they are requisite for the maintenance of public order ; but our allegiance goes elsewhere."
Again, in one of his pastoral letters—these pastoral letters were an endless source of controversy between the two sides Cardinal Mercier adjured the faithful to -abstain from all .hoatile acts against the Germans, to have that regard for the occupying Power which the common weal demanded, and to respect the regulations imposed so long as they did not interfere either with liberty of conscience or their patriotic feelings. On the other hand, he solemnly affirmed that the only legitimate power in Belgium "is that which belongs to our King, his Government and the representatives of the nation."
After Cardinal Mercier's public address in the Church of Ste.
Gudule on July 21st, 1916, Baron von Biasing demanded an ex- planation of language which seemed to him to be subversive. "'It would interest me especially," he wrote, " to learn if your Eminence spoke with such certainty of the approaching hour of deliverance.' If this is so, will you kindly inform me of the grounds upon which you base your. assertions ? Because of the importance which I attach to this fact, I should be grateful to your Eminence if you would give me a detailed account. I present to your Eminence the expression of my sincere esteem." Many other questions in the heavier German manner were asked and were answered, but we must confine ourselves to the one question we have quoted. To it Cardinal Mercier returned the following delightful answer :-
" I keenly regret that I cannot fix more precisely the date of our deliverance, and I suspect that if the Governor-General gave me access to my King; -or allowed me to visit•Jeffre, or Robertson, Von Falkenhayn er Von Hindenburg, we should not learn much more. Hence, after the phrase with which you find -fault, I added immediately : 'Let us continue to be patient and not allow our courage to -falter. Let us leave to Providence the care of completing our national education.' I exhorted my hearers to endurance and to patience,' and I mentioned the example of ` a poor woman who, hearing the possibility of an.early. peace discussed, said : Oh, for us there is no hurry ; we can still wait.' " We must now give an- extract -from one of Baron von der Lancken's philosophical dissertations:— "Just one word about Kant. I-knew well enough what your Eminence was aiming at the very first time you mentioned Kant's philosophy. But your attempt to give it a favourable interpretation was not- a, sufficient. motive for me to say_ that I appreciated it, when, in fact, I did not share your opinion. Regarding my remarks about the t notwehr ' it seems to me that your Eminence has not quite grasped the meaning which I gave that word. Notwehr ' connotes ' the act of defending oneself in the .case of necessity.' In that-case many things are allowed which are forbidden in normal times. The idea of necessity is not unknown in Theology, as in the case of urgent baptism. It allows the deviation from rules laid down for ordinary baptisms. If your Eminence will review in this light the events which occurred in Germany at the end of July, 1914, youwill be satisfied that very little could be laid at the door of • Kent."
Was there ever anything like it ?
We will end by quoting the letter which Cardinal Mercier wrote when he was informed by Baron von der Lancken of Baron von Bissing's death. The writing of a dignified and not ungrace- ful letter about the death of an unregretted person is notoriously
diffiedlt, and the Cardinal's skill in fencing appears not least in this brief acknowledgment of. Baron von der Lancken's com- munication :-
" I am very much affected- by your kind attention and wish to express my gratitude. Baron von Biasing was a believer ; I remember he said one day in 'unmistakable accents : I am not a Catholic, but I believe in -Christ.' I shall pray to our Lord in all sincerity for the repose of his soul. Aecept, sir, the expression of my sincere esteem.'
As this book contains the material of history, it is a- defect that it is not furnished with a general index.
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