The stubborn, passive resistance and self-sacrifice that I have pictured was that of a moral leadership of a majority shaming the minority; of an ostracism of all who had relations with the enemy.  Of course, it was not the spirit of the whole.  The American Commission, as charity usually must, had to overcome obstacles set in its path by those whom it would aid.  Belgian politicians, in keeping with the weakness of their craft, could no more forego playing politics in time of distress than some that we had in San Francisco and some we have heard of only across the British Channel from Belgium.

Zealous leaders exaggerated the famine of their districts in order to get larger supplies; communities in great need without spokesmen must be reached; powerful towns found excuses for not forwarding food to small villages which were without influence.  Natural greed got the better of men used to turning a penny any way they could.  Rascally bakers who sifted the brown flour to get the white to sell to patisserie shops and the well-to-do while the bread-line got the bran, required shrewd handling, and it was found that the best punishment was to let the public know the pariah part they had played.  In fact that soon put a stop to the practice.  It meant that the baker’s business was ruined and he had lost his friends.

A certain percentage of Belgians, as would happen in any country, saw the invasion only as a visitation of disaster, like an earthquake.  A flat country of gardens limits one’s horizon.  They fell into line with the sentiment of the mass.  But as time wore on into the summer and autumn of the second year, some of them began to think, What was the use?  German propaganda was active.  All that the Allies had cared for Belgium was to use her to check the German tide to Paris and the Channel ports!  Perfidious England had betrayed Belgium!  German business and banking influences, which had been considerable in Belgium before the war, and the numerous German residents who had returned, formed a busy circle of appeal to Belgian business men, who were told that the British navy stood between them and a return to prosperity.  Germany was only too willing that they should resume their trade with the rest of the world.

Why should not Belgium come into the German customs union?  Why should not Belgium make the best of her unfortunate situation, as became a practical and thrifty people?  But be it a customs union or annexation that Germany plans, the steel had entered the hearts of all Belgians with red corpuscles; and King Albert and his “schipperkes” were still fighting the Germans at Dixmude.  A British army appearing before Brussels would end casuistry; and pessimism would pass, and the German residents, too, with the huzzas of all Belgium as the gallant king once more ascended the steps of his palace.

Worthy of England at her best was her consent to allow the Commission’s food to pass, which she accompanied by generous giving.  She might seem slow in making ready her army—­though I do not think that she was—­but give she could and give she did.  It was a grave question if her consent was in keeping with the military policy which believes that any concession to sentiment in the grim business of war is unwise.  Certainly, the Krieg ist Krieg of Germany would not have permitted it.