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    "localId": "486500096",
    "label": "Report, Central Intelligence Agency, Belgium and Luxembourg, Situation Report 19",
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    "id": "486500096",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Report, Central Intelligence Agency, Belgium and Luxembourg, Situation Report 19",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486500096",
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        "President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)",
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    "productionDates": [
        {
            "day": 16,
            "logicalDate": "1948-11-16",
            "month": 11,
            "year": 1948
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    "seq": 21,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875506/875506-02-021.tif",
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    "ocrText": "SECRET\nthe formation of these councils, in actual practice there was considerable disagreement\nas to their constitution and function. However, the pressure from Socialist-Com-\nmunist and Catholic trade union federations for some kind of representation in man-\nagement forced the Government to effect a compromise solution. The \"conseils d'en-\ntreprises\" probably will give labor only a nominal voice in the direction of managerial\ndecisions regarding technical problems, but labor's inclusion in the committees should\nconsiderably increase the prestige of the trade unions in the eyes of the worker.\nf. Walloon Problem.\nAlthough the Government has given no official recognition of the Walloon\ncomplaints of discrimination in favor of the Flemish, the question of Walloon-Flemish\nequality is one that may develop into a threat to Belgian unity. The problem stems\nfrom the formation of a nation composed of two distinct ethnic elements-the Flemish\nand the French-different in race and tongue. French originally was estabilshed\nas the official language, but before World War II the Flemings attained full legal\nequality in all spheres of Belgian life. Since liberation the Walloons have been ap-\nprehensive of the growing numerical superiority of the Flemings and have complained\nof the dominant position the latter are achieving in the nation. The Walloons are\nalso apprehensive of the rapid economic development of Flemish areas through expand-\ning industries (based on coal supplies of the recently exploited Campine Basin). These\napprehensions are voiced through various organizations whose purpose it is to present\nWalloon claims and protect the Walloon position in the life of the nation. The com-\nplaints stem from various social, linguistic, and political factors. Walloon demands\nrange from a decentralized or federal form of government to complete Walloon inde-\npendence or union with France.\nThe Leopold issue adds tension to the Flemish-Walloon situation because Leo-\npold's main support is from the Catholic Flemish populace. The Walloons fear that\nhis return will mean complete Flemish domination of the country.\nThe Walloon cause is officially supported only by the Communist Party, al-\nthough members of the Liberal Party are also active supporters. Though the Catholics,\nand particularly the Socialists, seem anxious to find a solution to prevent party and\nnational disunity, a proposed bill for federalism has been rejected by the Parliamentary\nCommittee studying it. A possible solution, and the one that probably will be sought,\nis the establishment of as much administrative decentralization as possible without im-\npairing the national unity.\nfud\nSECRET\n12"
}