FRANCE & BELGIUM

Grey River Argus, 1 March 1945, Page 6

FRANCE & BELGIUM

ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION —j, LONDON, February 24. “It is authoritatively stated in Paris that complete agreement on 'the necessity for separating the Rhineland and Westphalia from Germany as a guarantee for future European security exists between France and Belgium,’’ states the Paris correspondent of the British United Press. “The agreement was reached after two days’ conversations between lhe Belgian Foreign Minister (M. Spaak) and French Cabinet Ministers. “An official communique says that they discussed political questions concerning the two countries and particularly various aspects of the German problem, the reconstruction of Europe, and organisation for world security. They disclosed a wide agreement of views as well as a common desire to continue their efforts in the political and economic spheres in order to reach harmonious collaboration on corresponding interests and the deep sentiments of the two peoples.’’ . .It is also announced in Faris that four economic agreements have been reached between France, Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg. They are first, an economic consultation agreement between all four countries, which will be signed soon; second, a commercial agreement between France, Belgium and Luxembourg, third, an agreement between France and Belgium on the exchange of information about the financial holdings of nationals of each country in another’s country; and fourth, a provisional agreement fixing the rate of exchange between the French and Belgian franc. . France, under th e commercial agreement, will supply agricultural products, chemicals, and building materials to Belgium. Belgium will export to France sulphur matches and manufactured goods. The economic agreement aims at enabling the four countries to pool their productive capacity and resources during the reconstruction period where there is little hope of relying on imports from overseas. Efforts will be made to avoid the re-establishment of competing industries. Authoritative quarters emphasise that no customs unions at present are contemplated, and there is no question of establishing a so-called western bloc, to which France, in fact, is strongly opposed. Britain, Russia, and the United States were kept fully informed throughout the talks.