Behind most of Belgium's recent political troubles has been the rising strength of the Flemish-speaking people. From 1831, when Belgium gained her independence from The Netherlands, until 1914. Belgium's rulers considered the nation an outpost of France. French was then the sole official language. Flemish, as closely akin to Dutch as American is to English, was the language of servants and peasants.
But the Flemings constitute half Belgium's population. Increasingly conscious of their numbers, they have demanded—and got—more political power. As fast as possible they have been pulling the nation away from its French moorings. During the World War many...