GUARANTEE TO BELGIUM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 245, 15 October 1937, Page 7

GUARANTEE TO BELGIUM

GERMANY’S ASSURANCE STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE OBSERVANCE OF NEUTRALITY (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) BERLIN, Oct. 13. Baron von Neurath and the Beb gian Minister in Berlin have issued a joint statement announcing the guarantee to Belgium by Germany. Il declares that Germany takes note of Belgium's determination to pursue a policy of independence and prevent her territory being used as a route of march and basis of operations for an attack by a third Power on Germany. It stresses that Belgium’s integrity is in the common interest of the Western Powers, and confirms Germany’s determination to respect the inviolability, except where Belgium co-operates in military action against Germany in any armed conflict in which Germany is implicated. Germany is ready, like England and France, to assist Belgium if attacked or invaded. The Note has been communicated to Italy. A London message states that the Times’ Berlin correspondent says that Germany’s declaration to Belgium will be 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 oi a base for British aircraft. This will be of definite strategic advantage to Germany, as it will shorten the frontier in the event of hostilities in East Europe. A Rome message states that Signor Cayda in the Giornale d’ltalia says that Italy will also guarantee Belgium’s frontiers. LENGTHY NEGOTIATIONS GERMAN VIEWPOINT LONDON, Oct. 13. The Manchester Guardian’s Berlin correspondent states that he learns on good authority that the German-Bel-gium treaty of neutrality and nonaggression, for 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 Locarno, and will constitute an important step in her policy of protecting the Western frontiers and will avoid tying her hands in the East.

Negotiations for a Western Pact have apparently been given up. The new treaty, it is added, will render the Western Pact scheme superflous. GREAT ERROR REPAIRED LONDON TIMES COMMENT. LONDON, Oct. 13. The Times says: “Germany repairs the great error of 1914 and Belgium gets all that King Leopold asked for last year. The prospects of a Western Pact seem distant, but the German declaration is a step in the right direction. Belgium accepts the German caveat that if she participates in military action, the guarantee becomes null and void. She has every reason to be satisfied and feels that her position is strengthened.” THE AIR INVIOLABLE FOREIGN ’PLANES FORBIDDEN. Received Oct. 14, 6.34 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 14. The Daily Mail’s Brussels correspondent asked the Foreign Minister, M. Spaak, whether the passage of foreign ir force over Belgium would be regarded as a violation of territory. He replied: “Yes. We have always maintained that the air is as inviolable as land.” HAILED BY GERMAN PRESS CONTRIBUTION TO PEACE. Received Oct. 14, 6.34 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 14. The German Press hails the Ger-man-Belgian statement as a valuable contribution to peace which “deprives the Locarno Treaty of its last bit of importance.”