The ministers, in response, declared that on the contrary, the Belgian forces were in excellent shape and their morale admirably high. High Army officers, they warned the king, were already using the word "treason" in reference to his conduct of war operations, The War Minister General, Denis went a step further, reminded the king of his responsibilities as Belgian commander in chief and recalled that unwritten rules of warfare forbid military capitulation in the open field.
These arguments met with no reply from the king except for his reiteration of the resolve to capitulate. At a final meeting, M. Pierlot made a desperate last-minute effort to dissuade the sovereign from his course, "which will dishonour Belgium," the premier told him openly. He also pointed out that the king was overstepping his powers as outlined in the Constitution.
All proved in vain, however, and the ministers thereupon left, the Belgian capital, political quarters concluded.—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.