BELGIUM'S POSITION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 250, 22 October 1938, Page 13

BELGIUM'S POSITION.

DANGERS OF NEUTRALITY.

IV TIME OF FRANCO-GERMAN WAR

BRUSSELS. The question of neutrality is a paramount one here. like the Scandinavian countries, Belgium would Ifke to remain :<eut rn I and independent in the next war. The Belgians say it will be ot lior |km»|.lo\h Will-, not their*. But they are in a quandaiv as to whether they can remain neutral. They ara puzzled as to whether they cai, tiiku the same position as the northern countries and whether taking too (l-cided u stand for neutrality mi»ht not work out to their disadvantage. 0 Last month Belgium sent a delegate to the meeting of the Scandinavian Powers in Copenhagen. At that meeting the nation* presents decla red the sanctions system of the League of Nations void and went on record as being definitely and jointly determined never to Ake part in any conflict between the great Powers. The fact that Belgium went on record so definitely for absolute neutrality met with criticism here.

The situation is not the same as it wan in 11)30, it pointed out. After Hitler tore up tile Locajno Peace Pact in IOJIti, the Belgians found themselves practically hi a position of being committed to enter a defensive military alliance with France and Great Britain ufriiinat Germany in certain disagreeables circumstances.

The Belgians, after a year of negotiations, were able to modify this position in April, 1037, by getting the British and French to guarantee they would not violate Belgian territory. It whs agreed, however, that Belgium should maintain a force sufficient to protect its frontiers.

In October, 1937, Germany also pledged not to violate Belgian territory. Iho implication in the new arrangement, which replaced the Locarno pact, is, however, that should any power violate its pledges the others would come to Belgium's assistance if invited by Belgium to do so.

There arc many implications and loopholes in the new arrangement. For instance, the Belgians would regard the passage of foreign aircraft over their frontier as an aet of war. In that case, supposing the craft were Ge|inan, they would advise the British ana French. In practice this means that in the event of war the Belgians will give the British much Quicker warning of a German 'plane Attack than would be the c ise if ike British learned of the oncoming raiders only after they had crossed tha English Channel.. This is precious for Britain'a air• defence. >■. ~s liut Belghrri public opinion Is uneasy and divided about w)ietner there is morf. danger of the French going through' Belgium to attack the Germans or of the Germans going through again to attack the Britiu and French, as in the world war. At any rata, the Belgians are fortifying their southern as well as their eastern/frontier.