At Louvain

The burning of the Library of Louvain was a classic "German atrocity," barely surpassed by the shooting of Edith Cavell.

The Treaty of Versailles provides, in Part VIII, Section II, Article 247, that: "Germany undertakes to furnish to the University of Louvain . . . manuscripts, incunabula--, printed books, maps and objects of collection corresponding in number and value to those destroyed in the burning by Germany of the Library of Louvain."

When U. S. contributors offered to rebuild the Library, Belgium's beloved Hero Primate, the late Desire Cardinal Mercier, authorized the following inscription for the faC,ade:

"Furore Teutonico Diruta; Dono Americano Restituta." ("Destroyed by Teutonic Fury; Restored by American Gifts.")

When the corner stone of the new Library was laid, Monsignor Ladeuze, Rector of the University of Louvain, exclaimed with fervor: "When generations of the future ask our successors about the origin and sense of this monument of which we lay the first stone, they will be answered: 'At Louvain the Germans, by burning the library, definitely broke with wisdom and with civilization.' "

Rector v. Architect. Thus far the attitude of Belgians and their Allies continued unswerving and consistent. But more recently Monsignor Ladeuze has reversed his former stand, and denounced as "likely to breed hatred" the stones bearing the inscription authorized by Cardinal Mercier. As champion of the Stones against the Rector, stands forth famed, florid, choleric Architect Whitney Warren of Manhattan. He designed the now virtually completed new Library of Louvain and personally received the inscription from Cardinal Mercier.

A realist and a beak-nosed aristocrat, Mr. Warren cannot stomach an inscription proposed by Monsignor Ladeuze:

"Destroyed in War, Restored in Peace."

Therefore Architect Warren and Rector Ladeuze faced and threatened each other in Louvain, last week, careless that they were making ridiculous a great and majestic atrocity.

Huskies Hired. Leaving the Rector, at last, Mr. Warren hired husky masons and tried to rush his stones into place. Before this could be done Monsignor Ladeuze got an injunction, called out police, hired his own huskies, and superintended the placing of his own set of stones, while Architect Warren fumed with impotence.

No sooner were the Rector's stones hoisted on high than a band of his own students, crying "Vive Warren! Vive Mercier!" mobbed the Rector's huskies, hurled down many of his stones, and marched away in triumph, singing La Braban-Qonne, the Belgian national air.

Royal Displeasure. Livid with rage, Monsignor Ladeuze hired more huskies, called out the whole police force of Louvain, and got a plaster of paris replica of his smashed stones into place, while Architect Warren left disgustedly for Paris. Short-lived, however, was the Rector's triumph. Next day he received a message from His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Leopold of the Belgians, Duke of Brabant, who regretted that, under the circumstances, no member of the Royal Family would be present for the dedication of the new Library scheduled for July 4, 1928.

Hoover v. Warren. Potent U. S. pacifist groups, ably spokesmanned by President Nicholas Murray Butler of Columbia University, appear to have been a decisive factor in reversing the attitude of Monsignor Ladeuze. He was given aid and comfort in his new stand, a month ago, by U. S. Candidate for President Herbert Hoover, who cabled: "The University of Louvain owns the new library and has undeniable jurisdiction connected with inscription and memorials. . . . Representing the donor of the larger share of funds employed in building library, I suggest you obtain immediate settlement present controversy on lines which will eliminate war bitterness and will reflect the true spirit of a great educational institution and be in accord with mature public opinion."

Wrathful Whitney Warren commented on this cable at Paris, last week:

"The greater share of the money Mr. Hoover sent consisted of the residue of the Belgian relief fund, which by the will of the donors already belonged to the Belgian people.

"The people of Belgium are 90% in favor of Cardinal Mercier's inscription. Students of the University, even the workmen who built the library, solidly demand the inscription. I have had people come up to me in the streets with their eyes streaming tears pleading with me not to abandon the fight but to remain firm. One of Herbert Hoover's own Wartime posters read: 'If seventy million Germans wept for a thousand years they could not make disappear the human miseries they caused in Belgium and Northern France.'

"As the architect and artist of the building I possess the right to insist that the building shall be constructed as planned, and even after the completion of the building I have the right to insist that the structure shall be maintained as I built it.

"I shall file suit against Mgr. Ladeuze and carry the fight to the highest court in Belgium. I shall continue to resist with the full conviction that if the Belgians yield this question, they will be yielding to the Germans."

German View. The official view of the German Republic, based on the findings of a German Commission of Inquiry, is that the combustion of the Library of Louvain arose from accidental causes, in the absence of any adequate fire fighting equipment, and without incendiary act by any German whomsoever. Nonetheless beaten Germany has made the reparation specified in the Treaty of Versailles; and Monsignor Ladeuze does not hold that this reparation should now be repatriated to Germany.

German editorial comment, last week, was to the effect that while the Versailles Treaty stands all mere lapidary inscriptions are immaterial.

One gifted German cartoonist drew the U. S. White House, then lettered in a devastating inscription: "Destroyed by British Fury in 1814; Restored by American Patriotism."

Royal Repentance. H. R. H. Crown Prince Leopold of the Belgians finally changed his royal mind, announced that he would attend the dedication.

*Works of art or of human industry of an early epoch.