SECURITY TALKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 47, 24 February 1945, Page 8

SECURITY TALKS

AGREEMENT REACHED

Rec. 1 p.m

LONDON, Feb. 23.

It is authoritatively stated in Paris that complete agreement on the necessity for separating the Rhineland and Westphalia from Germany as a guarantee of future European security exists between France and Belgium, says the British United Press Paris correspondent. The agreement was reached after two days' conversations between M. Spaak, the Belgian Foreign Minister, and members of the French Cabinet.

An official communique says they discussed political questions concerning the two countries, particularly various aspects of the German problem, the reconstruction of Europe, and the organisation of world security. '"They disclosed wide agreement of views, as well as a common desire to continue efforts in the political economic spheres in order to reach harmonious collaboration corresponding to the interests and deep sentiments of the two peoples." It is also announced in Paris that four economic agreements have been reached between France, Holland, Belgium, and Luxemburg. They are, first, an economic consultation agreement between .all four countries which will be signed soon; second, a commercial agreement between France, Belgium, and Luxemburg; third, an agreement between France and Belgium on exchange of information about the financial holdings of nationals of each country in the other country; fourth, a provisional agreement fixing the rate of exchange between the French and Belgian francs.

France, under the commercial agreement, will supply agricultural products, chemicals, and building materials tq Belgium. Belgium will export to France sulphur, matches, and manufactured goods. The economic consultation agreement aims at enabling the four countries to pool their productive capacity resources during the reconstruction period, when there will be little hope of relying on imports, from overseas. Efforts will be made to avoid the reestablishment of competing industries. Authoritative quarters emphasise that no Customs union at present is contemplated and there is no question of establishing a so-called western bloc, to which France, in fact, is strongly opposed. Britain, Russia, and America were kept fully informed throughout the talks.

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