Page:Emile Vandervelde - Three Aspects of the Russian Revolution - tr. Jean Elmslie Henderson Findlay (1918).djvu/268

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Three Aspects of the Russian Revolution

for the realization of legitimate national aims, conforming to all traditions of democracy and to the doctrine so often formulated of the International.

The Policy of Annexation.

Belgian Socialists have not waited till to-day to oppose strongly the policy of annexation. A small part of our Conservative Party has made a campaign in view of the complete victory of the Allies. Belgium receiving an important part of the German territory on the left bank of the Rhine, Aix-la-Chapelle, and even Cologne. Our annexationists would reclaim from Holland a part of Limburg, yielded to that country in 1839, and from Dutch Flanders which would give us access to the mouth of the Scheldt, and would thus assure in all time the free navigation of the river. By our efforts we have succeeded in deleting from the programme all claims of this description. Public documents declare it in which all the members of the Cabinet are engaged.

We shall content ourselves by referring

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