The Belgian primary schools are administered by the authorities of the communes. The central government, however, contributes large subsidies to the support of the primary schools and establishes certain requirements to which the primary schools must conform. The administration of the subsidies, including the national publicschool inspection service, falls to the Minister of Sciences and Arts. For fifty years or more the so-called school war has been waged in Belgium over religious courses in the public schools and state control of private religious schools. Religious instruction in the public schools was established by the law of 1895 and has been in operation since that date. Parents who do not wish their children to take the religious courses may have them exempted. Political control of the public schools has also been a major issue for many years in Belgium. In politics the school war is reflected in the activities of the Catholic or Clerical party and of the Liberal or anti-clerical party. Each of these parties has undertaken to use the public schools to impress the minds of the children with its political principles. The present political situation in Belgium gives added interest to M. Destr6e's address.