BROKEN PROMISES.

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 111, 11 May 1940, Page 13

BROKEN PROMISES.

NAZI GOVERNMENT

ASSURANCE OF PACIFIC

INTENTIONS

HEED OP NEUTRALITY

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received May 11, noon.)

RUGBY, May 10.

Although the latest Nazi aggression conforms to the well-known technique, it is probably true that to no other countries have assurances of Nazi pacific intentions been more often or more solemnly given than to Holland and Belgium.

The very Vulnerability of their position has caused the neutrality of these two countries to be taken as axiomatic, and their own conduct has been beyond reproach. So much- is this true that Holland, for instance, has consistently refused either to accept a guarantee of support from other countries or to enter into non-aggression pacts. This point.is made especially clear in the reply 'given by the Dutch Foreign Minister- on February 13, 1937, to Hitler's reference to his proposal for a non-aggression pact between France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands in his Reichstag speech of January. 30, 1937. Jonkheer Dr. Graeff said: "The Netherlands cannot conclude a treaty' with another State regarding the inviolability 'of Netherlands territory, as this inviolability is for the Netherlands an axiom which cannot suitably be the subject of an agreement concluded by the Netherlands." PRETENDED ATTITUDE. That this attitude is one which Nazi Germany pretended to adopt is shown not only by recent avowals that suggestions that,she was preparing to invade Holland were stories put about by "British propaganda," but also by a long list of specific assurances publicly given by .the leaders of the German Government. Thus, in the Reichstag on January 30, 1937, Hitler affirmed that Germany guaranteed Holland and Belgium as "neutral regions in perpetuity." In the Reichstag again on April 28, 1939, he repeated the pledge j in a different form, and on August 26, 1939,- it was announced that the German Envoy-had informed the Queen of the Netherlands that Germany would' in no circumstances cease to respect-the inviolability and integrity of the .Netherlands,, provided the Netherlands preserved strict neutrality. These assurances were repeated by Dr. Goebbels on September 21, 1939, by Hitler in the Reichstag on October 6, 1939, and in an official German news agency statement on November 13, 1939. In all the above cases, with one exception, a promise to preserve the integrity of Belgium was also included. In this respect it is interesting to compare the announcement made by the German Government in 1914, when Belgium was invaded, with a German wireless. announcement made at 2.30 this afternoon. In 1914 the ultimatum stated: "The German Government would, however, feel the deepest regret if Belgium regarded as an act of hostility against herself the fact that measures of Germany's opponents force Germany, for her own protection, to enters, Belgian..-territory„"■•* Today's an r no|m§emenWs\ys:^'T^Germaris"want to leave you in peace. They only want to pass through Belgium." The Belgian wireless announces that the Premier, in a speech in the Belgian Parliament, said that the German Government solemnly declared in October 13, 1936: "Germany will never violate the integrity of Belgium in any circumstances whatsoever." "Today events have proved lor. the second time in 25 years," he said, "what worth can be attached to German promises. France and Britain, according to their guarantee, are giving all the military and naval and aerial support in their power. Holland, Luxemburg, and Belgium are United as never before. Belgium has neglected nothing for her defence." ____»