LIGHTNING – LIKE RAPIDITY OF OPERATION

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 97, 18 January 1940, Page 7

LIGHTNING - LIKE RAPIDITY OF OPERATION

French Officials State Policy (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright.) Receive'd January 17; 10.50 p.m. LONDON, January 17. The Belgian newspaper “Le Soir” says that the Coniman-der-in-Chief of the British Field Forces, Lord Gort, in an interview said: “If Belgium is attacked or her neutrality, independence and vital interests were threatened the French and .Biitish guarantee would operate with lightning rapidity. This time a would be ready. , “if “There will be no more gropmgs as in 1914, he added. it the Germans come they will be well received.” French Foreign Office officials declared that the Allied policy provided for the defence of any neutral which was invaded by Germany, says a message from Paris. However, an official statement is not being issued. It is officially denied in Stockholm and Oslo that Britain offered to guarantee the integrity of Sweden and Norway. No further developments were reported in London from Belgium and Holland yesterday morning, though neither Government has relaxed the military precautions taken a few days ago. The Belgian Foreign Minister had an interview with the British and French Ambassadors on Tuesday, but no statement was issued after the meeting, , Official quarters in Brussels stated on Tuesday night that it the international situation did not change for the worse during the next 24 hours, the recently-mobilized Class D reservists may be reduced. At the same time it was stated that Belgium was keeping a watchful eye on the situation. • King Leopold was to have attended a function in Ghent on Tuesday, but had to cancel his engagement.—By radio.