THE BEAL BELGIUM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 263, 4 October 1940, Page 8

THE BEAL BELGIUM

Official. —To 11 p.m. ten Germans had been shot down. f

UNBROKEN SPIRIT. FIGHT FOR FREEDOM. (United Press Association —Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) (Roc. 11.45 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 3. Two Belgian Ministers broadcast on the B.B.C'i Continental wave-length to the Belgian people on Thursday evening—M. Gutt (Finance Minister), who 6poke in French, and M. de Vlelschauwer, who broadcast in Flemish. .Stating that they were speaking on a tree radio from a free country, the Belgian Ministers said M. Pierlot (Belgian Prime Minister), speaking in France on July 21; had definecl his position, but, although his definition was of the utmost importance to all Belgian people, the French Government had refused to allow either a broadcast or a communication to the Press. It was inevitable, the Ministers continued, after four months of separation that they and the Belgian people would not think alike on all points, blit there were certain principles which were embodied in the programme of the Belgian Government on which all would agree. Giving this programme, the Ministers said: “Belgium is occupied by the German armies; the King is a prisoner; and we are the onlv legal Belgian Government and the only ministers appointed by the King. We want a free Belgium and a free King. We want them completely and entirely free —as before August 4, 1914, and before Mav 10. 1940. FIGHT TILL VICTORY. “To achieve this aim we will fight side by side with Britain till final victory. “On May 10, 1940, Belgium was unjustifiably attacked, and took up arms and appealed to her guarantors. Since that date Belgium lias not concluded any armistice convention, even less sighed a peace treaty. Legally and effectively she is at war with Germany, who is in Belgian territory and is, in fact, applying war measures.” The Ministers said they were speakin’g from England, where they were “welcomed as brothers, where hearts beat iu union with ours; where our soldiers are already mounting guard, where our daring airmen have volunteered to share the glory in a victorious battle in the skies with all the champions of freedom and liberty.”