BELGIUM: Grand Cordon

Finance Minister Emile Franqui stood stiff, straight, plump and proud, last week, while a deep red grand cordon was adjusted across his breast in the manner of the transverse strap of a Sam Brown Belt. Soon by a gold safety pin there was attached to M. Franqui the highest decoration in the gift of the Belgian Crown—the Order of Leopold. Twinkling it dangled, glittered: a gold edged white enamel cross suspended from a royal crown and resting on a green laurel and oak wreath, at the centre on a black field the...

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