"An Argentine witness of the occupation and reconstruction of Belgium: Roberto J. Payró's chronicles"

MARÍA INÉS TATO

Lovaina

Congreso; International Colloquium Revival after the Great War: Repair, Rebuild, Remember; 2018

Ciudad de Lovaina - KU Leuven

On the eve of the First World War, the Argentinewriter Roberto J. Payró (1867-1928) was settled in Brussels, working ascorrespondent for the Buenos Aires newspaper La Nación. At the outbreak of the conflict, he decided to stay inBelgium to offer his readers a first-hand account of the war events. Duringthe war, Payró exhibited a high degree of commitment to the Belgian cause. As ajournalist, he publicly denounced in the Argentine press the abuses of theGerman occupation authorities, which earned him house arrest and strictsurveillance from September 1915 until the end of the war. He also took part incharity initiatives to assist Belgian victims, while his wife joined the Red Cross as a volunteer nurse, and his eldest son asa stretcher-bearer. Owing to his solidarity with Belgium during those dramatictimes, Payró was decorated as Officer of the Order of Leopold II in 1921, andfive years later with the Knight?s Cross of the Order of Leopold.Payró wasnot only an exceptional eyewitness of the invasion and occupation of Belgium,but also of the post-war reconstruction. In February 1919, La Naciónresumed publication of his new chronicles, which reflected on the new dilemmasposed to Belgium by the new international scenery. Based on these sources, this paper aims toanalyse his diagnosis of the war experience and its aftermath regarding thereconstruction process.