He fought for using Dutch at the University of Ghent, together with the Socialist Camille Huysmans and the liberal Louis Franck.

In 1911 they proposed a bill to the Belgian parliament, which originated from Lodewijk De Raet for the usage of Dutch at the University of Ghent instead of French.

In his letters, Van Cauwelaert opposed unbridled European unification, with a full place for Germany.

In his view, a unified Europe should keep Germany out and focus primarily on the transatlantic allies England and especially the United States .

This anti-German attitude is not surprising, since Van Cauwelaert already had to flee from the German aggression against Belgium during the First World War.