3rd.  And that the new economic conditions imposed by the war had considerably reduced the income of the most wealthy citizens.

As the Germans persist in invoking the text of the Hague Convention of which they have again and again violated every clause, it may be useful to point out that, according to the 49th article, the occupying power is only allowed to raise war contributions “for the need of the army,” that is to say, in order to pay in money the requisitions which he is obliged to make in order to supply the army of occupation with food, fodder, and so on.  As, most of the time, the Germans only pay for what they requisition in “bons de guerre” payable after the war, and as, in spite of their sound appetite, we can scarcely believe that the few thousand “landsturmers” who are garrisoning Belgium are eating two million pounds worth a month, the illegal character of the German measure seems evident.  Besides, if any doubt were still possible, we should find it laid down in the 52nd article that any service required from the occupying power must be “in proportion to the country’s resources.”

As the announcement had provoked strong protests, Governor von Bissing announced a few days later that, if this contribution was paid, no further extraordinary taxes would be required and the requisitions would henceforth be paid for in money.  Needless to say, none of these promises have been fulfilled, and the contribution of 480 millions was renewed at the beginning of 1915, and even increased to 600 millions lately, so that, from that source only, the Germans have raised in Belgium, after two years of occupation, a sum equal to one-fourth of the total State debt of the country on the eve of the war.

This is only one example among many.  The communes did not enjoy better treatment.  The reader will remember that during the period of invasion the enemy exacted various war-taxes from every town he entered:  20 millions from Liege, 50 millions from Brussels, 32 millions from Namur, 40 millions from Antwerp, and so on.  Since then, he has never lost an opportunity of inflicting heavy fines even on the smallest villages.  If one inhabitant succeeds in joining the army, if an allied aeroplane appears on the horizon, if, for some reason or other, the telegraph or the telephone wires are out of order, a shower of fines falls on the neighbouring towns and villages.  In June last the total amount of these exactions was estimated, for 1916, at ten millions (L400,000).  If we add to this the fines inflicted constantly, on the slightest pretext, on private individuals, we shall certainly remain below the mark in stating that Germany succeeds in getting out of Belgium over twenty million pounds a year.  Twenty million pounds, when the ordinary income of the State amounts scarcely to seven millions!  And I am not taking into account the money seized in the banks and the recent enforced transfer to Germany of the 600 millions (L24,000,000) of the National Bank.