BELGIUM & LOCARNO

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 100, 29 April 1937, Page 9

BELGIUM & LOCARNO

WHY RELEASE WAS GRANTED

(British Official Wlrelnss.J (Received April 29, 11.40 a.m.)

RUGBY, April 28.

Questioned in the House of Commons on the negotiations preceding the recent joint Note to the Belgian Government from the British and French Governments, the Foreign Secretary recalled the terms of the Note and proceeded: ■■■"'.

"The preparatory exchange, of views which has been taking place recently between the signatories of-the Treaty of Locarno with a view to the negotiation, of a new Western European security pact has shown that in any new treaty Belgium would wish not to give guarantees to.other States and that the other four Governments' concerned i.i the negotiations would also be prepared to agree that Belgium should not . undertake to guarantee other States in a new treaty. In view, therefore, of the delay experienced in negotiating a new treaty, it was decided, in order to meet the wishes of .-the Belgian Government, to give effect to their wish to be released in advance from their remaining obligations under the Locarno Treaty and the arrangements of March 19,, 1936.

"I should like to add that the present communications in no way affect the obligations of any other country but, Belgium." In another reply .Mr. Eden said that staff conversations to facilitate the Franco-British guarantees to Belgium were not contemplated._