JOINT PLEDGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22860, 15 October 1937, Page 11

JOINT PLEDGE

FASCIST POWERS INTEGRITY OF BELGIUM INDEPENDENCE RESPECTED UNDERSTANDING REACHED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October* 14,f5.5 p.m.) BERLIN, Oct. 13 The German Foreign Minister, Baron von Neurath, and the Belgian Minister to Berlin, Vicomte Davignon, have issued a joint statement announcing Germany's guarantee of Belgium's territorial integrity. The announcement declares that Germany takes note of Belgium's determination to pursue a policy of independence and to prevent her territory being used as a route of march, or the basis of operations for an attack by a third Power. Germany lays stress on the fact that Belgium's integrity is of common interest to the Western Powers, and confirms her determination to respect its inviolability except where Belgium co-operates in military action against Germany in any armed conflict in which Germany is implicated. Germany is ready, like Britain and France, to assist Belgium if attacked or invaded. The Note was communicated to Italy, and a message from Rome states that Signor Gayda, in II Giornale d'ltalia, says Italy also will guarantee Belgium's frontiers. The German press hails the statement as a valuable contribution to peace which "deprives the Locarno Treaty of its last bit of importance." The Brussels correspondent of the Daily Mail asked the Foreign Minister, Dr. Spaak, whether the passage of a foreign Air Force over Belgium would be regarded as a violation of her territory. He replied: "Yes. We have always maintained that the air is as inviolable as the land."

EFFECT OF AGREEMENT GERMANY'S WEST FRONTIER NEUTRALISATION ASSURED 1 j Times Cable LONDON. Oct. 13 Th§- Berlin correspondent of the Times" savs Germany's declaration to Belgium is a unilateral assurance to respect the inviolability of Belgian territory unless other Powers use it as a military base. The question of Belgian neutrality does not arise nor are corresponding assurances asked for or> offered, but it is supposed that Belgium has indicated that \ her territory will not be used for the purpose of military aggression against Germany. In other words, Belgium will not provide a passage for French troops or bases for British aircraft. This will be of definite strategic advantage to Germany, as it will shorten the frontier she requires to defend and mark an advance toward her objective of neutralising the western frontier in the event of hostilities in East Europe. Commenting editorially, the Times says Germany repairs her great error of 1914 and Belgium secures all King Leopold asked for last year. The prospects of a Western pact seem to be distant, but the German declaration is a step in the right direction. Belgium fully accepts tlie German caveat that if she participates in military action the guarantee becomes null and void. She has every reason to be satisfied, and to feel that her position has been strengthened.

EARLY SIGNATURE TREATY REPLACES LOCARNO WESTERN PACT SUPERFLUOUS LONDON. Oct. 13 The Berlin correspondent of the Manchester Guardian says he learns on good authority that the treaty of neutrality and non-aggression between Germany and Belgium on which negotiations have ■ been proceeding since King Leopold's famous neutrality declaration, is expected to be signed to-day. The treaty, in the German view, will form the principal instrument for replacing the Locarno Treaty and will constitute an important step in her policy of protecting her western frontier and avoiding tying her hands in the East. The negotiations for a Western Pact apparently have been given up. The new treaty, it is added, will render a Western Pact scheme superfluous.