VASSAL STATE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 248, 27 July 1940, Page 6

VASSAL STATE

GERMAN PLAN FOR BELGIUM. BUFFER STATE AGAINST BRITAIN INDEPENDENCE OF BRITTANY. fUnited Press Association —Copyright ’ LONDON, July 26. The Gorman destruction of French liberties has been furthered by the creation of a Breton National Council. This, according to the German News Agency, has proclaimed a new national State * of,, Brittany, independent from France, with which future relations will be regulated by treaty. The “Daily Telegraph’’ gives prominence to what purports to be a German plan to destroy Belgium as an independent national and create a vast vassal State, acting like a buffer between Germany and Britain. It says reliable information from Belgium and inspired comments in the Italian and German press and radio indicate that Germany aims to reconstitute Flandeys with notable additions at the expense of Belgium, France and Holland. TJie opinion is expressed in Belgium that Germany realises she will not conquer Britain by invasion, and for this reason is attempting to build up a barrier against British offensive action. The new State will have a sea coast from, the ridge behind Boulogne to the northern Scheldt, embracing the islands of southern Zeeland. Calais, Dunkirk, Ostend, Zeobruggo, Flushing, Antwerp, and the. Hook of Holland would be maritime bases, and the whole plain of Flanders would bo an air base.

In addition to the provinces of east and west Flanders, the new State would include the Belgian province of Antwerp, and Belgian and Dutch Limbonrg, so as to provide German access to the North Sea and the great French northern provinces.