BELGIUM’S ATTITUDE.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1927, Page 1

BELGIUM’S ATTITUDE.

H R US,SELLS, Jan. 14. The Belgian reply to the recent British memoradum regarding China was handed to the British Ambassador in Brussells on Tuesday. Belgium completely shares the opinion of the British Government that it is impossible to refuse complete sympathy with the National movement in China. r flie Belgian Government, while confirming its immediate unconditional adhesion to the granting of the Washington surtaxes to the British suggestions as regards extra-territoriality, is of the opinon that a collective declaration, as suggested in the British memorandum. in regard to the policy to be followed towards China hy the signatories to the Washington Treaty, is at present neither opportune nor possible. The reply states that several Powers have already rejected the proposal. Moreover, it is to he feared that, in the present frame of mind in China, a collective declaration, however wide and liberal it might he. would create more distrust than satisfaction, and that, anyway, it would give rise to erroneous interpretations. The Belgian Government, however, wishes that, in the establishment of a Government in China with authority to speak in the name of a sovereign, united people, the Chinese national aspirations shoulu receive the greatest possible degree of satisfaction, by means of agreements willingly reached which, at the same time, would assure all foreigners of the same treatment and the same guarantees.