BELGIUM AND LOCARNO

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 88, 30 April 1937, Page 11

BELGIUM AND LOCARNO

(British Official Wireless.)

Why Release Was Granted

! " RUGBY, April 38. • i Questioned in the House of Commons on the negotiations precedmg the recent joint Note to the Belgian Government from the British and French Governments, the Foreign Secretary recalled the terms of the Note and proceeded: "The preparatory exchange of viewsi which has been taking place recently between tbo signatories of tbe Treaty of Locarno witb a viow to the negotiation of a new Western European security pact has shown that in any new treaty Belgium would wish not to give guarantees to other States and that the other four Governments concerned in the negotiations would also be prepared to agree that Belgium should not undertake to guarantee other States in a new treaty. In view, therefore, of the delay experienced in negotiating a new treaty, it was decided, in order to meet th© wishes of « the Belgian Government, to give effect Ito their wish to be Teleased in advance from their remaining obligations under the Locarno Treaty^" and the arrangejnents of March 19, 1936. I "I should like to add that the pre■sent communications in no way affect jthe obligations of any other country _ •but Belgium." In another Teply Mr Eden said that fstaff conversations to facilitate the ,'Franco-British guarantees to Belgium ^were not contemplated.