BELGIAN RESISTERS

Grey River Argus, 23 November 1944, Page 2

BELGIAN RESISTERS

Surrender of Arms FORCE MAY BE USED LONDON, Noy. 17 Members of the Belgian resistance movements must be disbanded by to-morrow, states a message from Brussels.- Fortv thousand will be affected. It is officially admitted, however that all members of resistance movements are unlikely, to lay down their arms. Persuasion will at first be tried, but if this is unsuccessful force will be applied. The Belgian Foreign Minister (M. Paul Snaak) has announced that the British authorities have agreed to the Belgian plans for armament to tlie equipment for new cnits of the Belgian army and police force, states the Brussels correspondent of “The Times.” Some Belgians will go to England in order to learn modern warfare. M. Spaak will go to Paris next week for talks concerning the Western regional agreement within the framework of the Dumbarton Oaks agreement.

GRATITUDE TO BRITISH LONDON, Nov 17 King George and Prince Charles, of Belgium, have exchanged messages expressing on the one hand gratitude on the occasion of the complete expulsion of the Germans from Belgium and on the other confidence in the future friendship and co-operation or Britain and Belgium. . The following is an unofficial translation. The Prince Regent’s message: “At the moment of the complete liberation of our national territory by the valiant Allied armies, I wish to express to your Majesty the sincere gratitude' and great admiration which I, in common with the whole Belgian people, feel for the brilliant and decisive part taken by the heroic British forces in the deliverance of the country, The whole of Belgium is of one mind with the people of the United Kingdom and it desires to associate itself with the immense effort it is making towards final victory. I take this occasion to renew to your Majesty an expression of my feelings of profound and faithful friendship.” The King replied: “I thank your Royal Highness for the message which you sent me on the occasion of th e final and complete expulsion of the enemy from the national soil of Belgium. ‘ I and my people are proud of the part that my armed forces have been able to play in the liberation of your country. The warm welcome and the hospitality so generously accorded all British ranks by the 'Belgian people is a sign of the friendship between our two peoples and a happy augury for complete accord.”