WAS IT MADE IN GERMANY?

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18201, 28 February 1929, Page 9

WAS IT MADE IN GERMANY?

Franco - Belgian Treaty

STRONG FRENCH COMMENT. (United Press Association —By EU'trU Talegraph—Copyright.) PARIS, February 26. “Le Journal’’ is of the opinion that no doubt the Franco-Belgian story is of German origin. There is further evidence that the Germans do riot understand the principle respecting international obligations. “Le Matin” says it is a plain plan to create Franco-German discord on the eve of the League Council.

“ FORGERY OF AN EVIL DOER.” OFFICIAL BELGIAN STATEMENT. 4 CaiUd Press Association—By SlMsna Telegraph—Oopyr'ght.) BRUSSELS, February 26. The alleged Franco-Belgian agreement was subject to two interpellations of the Chamber, to which M. Hyiftans replied immediately, explaining that the document that appeared in a newspaper which was noted for hostility to Belgium, and which accepted it without verification. It was the forgery of an evil doer inspired with a desire to prevent improved Belgo-Dutch relations. He added that the Franco-Belgian agreement was only provided to meet unprovoked German aggression. Moreover, it was purely defensive, and not opposed to the League Pact. The publication of such a forgery showed systematic hostility to Belgium, and he hoped the Dutch Government would collaborate with Belgium in establishing the true facts.

M. Vandervelde, the Socialist leader, declared that the signatories to the document would deserve court-martial, and those accusing us of aggression Holland are liars and calumniators. Newspaper reports allege that the treaty was forged in Flemish quarters at Brussels, one leader of which took a copy to Holland, disposing of it to a Dutch organisation acting for a German spy service, whose headquarters are at Mulheim, on the Ruhr.

An important newspaper at Amsterdam was offered the document but refused to have anything to do with it. It is believed that the object of the publication was to prejudice the BelgoDutch negotiations.

“ MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.” EUROPEAN PRESS VIEWS. ( r jnltad Prass Association—By Elaoirla Toletraph—Copyright.) LONDON, February 26. The more responsible morning papers are disinclined to treat the Dutch newspapers’ Franco-Belgian war pact disclosures seriously. The news is placed on the back page of the “Morning Post,” which publishes an editorial headed: “Much Ado About Nothing.” The paper stresses that the alleged Franco-Belgian convention of 1920 was duly reported to the League of Nations, while a military convention does not exist. The “Morning Post” asks: “Whence sprang this Dutch sensation? Is it designed to hamper an agreement being reached between Holland and Belgium on the vexed question of the Scheldt?”

The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent says it is expected that Sir Austen Chamberlain will make a statement in the House of Commons at the earliest opportunity, and will certainly be able to give a categorical denial to any Anglo-Belgian or AngloFrench military convention of 1927 nearly two years after Locarno, and a year after Germany’s entry into the League. In the meantime an explicit statement from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs says both the secret military treaty of 1920 and the subsequent complementary provisions of 1927 are entirely apocryphal. “The French and Belgian Governments communicated with the League on November 2, 1920,” the Ministry states, “and letters were exchanged relative to the military agreement of the preceding August—purely a defensive agreement, having in view, exclusively, unprovoked acts of aggression. No military agreement has been signed since then between France and Belgium or the General Staffs of those countries.”

The Dutch papers, which are accepting the report as authentic, are naturally seething with indignation, especially at the alleged plans of invading Holland from three plans of invading of war between Belgium, France, and Germany.