He gave me an account of the conversation that you had with him: I was
impressed by what you said about the necessity to draw the world’s attention
to something quite new.
I am taking this opportunity to send you the copy of a letter that I have
just addressed to Monsieur van Zeeland and I hope that you will consider
with interest the ideas that I have exposed in it.
[Enclosure—Translation]24
The King of the Belgians (Leopold III) to the Belgian Prime Minister (Van Zeeland)
My Dear Prime Minister: When one reflects on
the disorganized state in which Humanity is plunged, a feeling of deep
anxiety causes the future to appear in a very obscure light.
[Page 686]
So it is necessary to encourage with strength and conviction every
attempt at organization, the pursuit of which can lift the mind toward
an ideal of human solidarity.
This consideration emphasizes the importance of the mission that Great
Britain and France confided, thanks to your assistance, to Belgium, and
which has gone far beyond the bounds generally attributed to it, as it
may lead to a search for the elements of an organization of world
economy.
The welcome that you received across the Atlantic is an indication of the
friendly sentiments of the United States of America regarding the effort
owed to the initiative of Great Britain and France. These three Nations
thus bring us the proof of their generous desire to take part actively
in the establishment of a better order, which the entire world
demands.
The increased burden that you have taken on yourself, by accepting this
heavy task, will arouse the gratitude of all who understand its true aim
and who measure its vast extent.
When you are ready to set forth the preliminary results of your inquiry,
allow me to make you a suggestion: it might be essential, I think, to
bring into being some organism for economic studies, the value of which
would be stamped by its three-fold character of universality, permanence
and independence. A search for the elements of an organization of
world-wide economy and a continuous adaptation of this organization to
the constant variations in the factors of the economy, such would be the
object of the studies of this institution.
The economic science, derived essentially from life, submits to the
rhythm of the latter, and the problems it poses can not receive any
immutable solution.
Finally, to be apt for the fulfilment of its mission, the institution
contemplated must be as independent as possible of national
influences.
Undeniably, it is very difficult to isolate the field of economy from
political contingencies. But it is precisely this difficulty that
constitutes the knotty point of the problem you have undertaken and on
which all our efforts must be concentrated.
Under these conditions, the principal point would be that the suggested
institution should be able to depend on the collaboration of persons
who—all over the world—are best acquainted with the ensemble of
questions relating to industry, commerce, agriculture, finance and
labor. These persons would lend their aid, by reason of their personal
competence, and not in pursuance of orders given them.
The lowering of tariff barriers, not more than any other partial measure,
can alone put an end to the disorder that threatens peace. If we really
wish to avoid war and to bring men back to a more
[Page 687]
pacific state of mind, we must have the
courage to envisage the economic question in its generality and to
furnish a solution to the great problems which threateningly confront
Humanity as a whole:
—the distribution of raw materials,—the distribution of means of
exchange,—the international division of labor,—the equilibrium between
agricultural and industrial nations, etc.
I do not have any illusion in regard to the difficulties that the
realization of so extensive a program admits. I have the conviction,
nevertheless, that the moment is favorable to attempt it, and that we
should be able to hope to find, in the accomplishment of this effort,
not only the support of all Governments, but likewise the approbation
and support of great collective bodies of social, religious and
philanthropic character; in a word, of all men who have in their hearts
a desire for understanding and solidarity.
We can not affect ignorance of the fact that whole segments of the human
community no longer understand one another.
If a first step can be made to bringing them together, we should bring to
Humanity, and notably to the Orient—otherwise than by our words—the
proof that the Occident places above immediate prepossessions of a
material order the spiritual force emanating from a true feeling of
fraternity.
Believe me, my dear Prime Minister, devotedly yours,
