FORGED DOCUMENT

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 136, 5 March 1929, Page 11

FORGED DOCUMENT

FRANCO-BELGIAN “PACT” ARRESTED MAN MAKES CONFESSION DESCENDANT OF FAMOUS GERMAN WRITER (United Press Association.—By Electric .Telegraph.—Copyright) (Australian Press Assn. — Uiil.eu Service.) Brussels, March 3. The newspapers state that the name of the man who was arrested on the arrival of the Amsterdam express and charged with being the author of the “Utrechtsche Dagblad’s” alleged secret Franco-Belgian military treaty, Is Frank Heine. The man confessed to having forged the document, using a seal made from an impression of a French 25 centime piece. He said that he intended to sell the forgery to the German espionage service. Instead, he sold it to the “Dagblad” for a good price. Heine admits that he was entirely responsible for the “Dagsblad” for-' geries. The treaty was a plagiarism of the Franco-Russian pre-war treaty, recently published by the Soviet, and did not concern Belgium and Holland. Heine declared that the German espionage bureau at Mulheim, to which he first offered the documents, disbelieved their -authenticity and refused them. He negotiated with the headquarters of the Activists, of which he was a member, and sold the documents through the good offices of an Antwerp journalist whose arrest is shortly expected. “I do not consider,” he said, “that I sold France and Belgium; I simply cheated a buyer, which is a venial swindle.” GREAT GRANDSON OF HEINE “AN IMMENSE JOKE” Australian Press Association. (Rec. March 4, 7.5 p.m.) London, March 3. The Brussels correspondent of the “Daily Express” states that Heine is a great grandson of the famous writer Heine. He had been shadowed by the police. When be was arrested the police seized Heine’s portfolio, which they found to contain the “original” of the alleged treaty. Heine affects to consider the matter as an immense joke, and boasts of the way in which he deceived the whole world. He is liable for fifteen years’ imprisonment for plotting against the national securitq. The police are actively searching for accomplices. STATEMENT BY MR. HYMENS WORD SHOULD NOT BE DOUBTED Brussels, March 2. M. Paul Hymens, Minister for Foreign Affairs, speaking at a municipal banquet at Brussels, declared that Belgium’was carrying on delicate but friendly economic negotiations with Holland. In consequence of the publication- of forged documents, voices had been raised attributing aggressive schemes and manoeuvres to Belgium. “We have categorically and solemnly contradicted these pocryphal documents upon all points,” said M. Hymens. “We have got the right to ask that our word should not be doubted. Belgiuin personified the cause of right during the war. Who could imagine that she would squander her patrimony and honour in occult machinations threatening world peace ? The Belgian public is wholly behind our protests.” General Gallet, chief of the Belgian General Staff, whose name figures largely in the alleged minutes of the Franco-Belgian military conference, categorically denounced the “Dagblad’s” document as a forgery from beginning to end. He reserves the right to demand compensation for libel. SPIRIT OF THE RHINE PACT Berlin, March 2. In a semi-official reference to interviews by the German Ambassador at London, it is again stated on behalf of Britain that no co-operation bad occurred between the British, French, and Belgian representatives which would conflict with the absolute impartiality of Britain. The French Foreign Minister declared that the Dutch publication was a forgery from beginning to end. The Government have never thought, and would never think, of entering into obligations conflicting with the letter and spirit of the Rhine Pact.