“Taranaki Central Press” TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1937. BELGIUM SEEKS GUARANTEES.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 406, 13 April 1937, Page 4

“Taranaki Central Press” TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1937. BELGIUM SEEKS GUARANTEES.

The reported recognition by Britain and France of Belgium's neutrality throws further light on the recent manoeuvrings of the Belgian Government in its effort to secure maximum concessions while reducing its international commitments to a minimum. ft is stated that the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, will visit Brussels shortly to discuss the concession of independence to Belgium. In other words, her release from Locarno obligations, accompanied by a guarantee of her territorial inviolability. In return for this handsome concession Belgium is prepared “to maintain an army sufficient to deter an aggressor ’--an undertaking which is so conveniently vague as to be almost worthless—and also to pay some form of lip service to the League of Nations. Since the speech by King Leopold on October 15, virtually disclaiming any future Locarno obligations, it has become increasingly apparent that Belgian foreign policy is directed toward attaining a state of “non-alliance" with the great Powers. The recognition of her neutrality marks a forward step in this policy, and brings Belgium more into line with Holland, Switzerland, and the Scandinavian countries in refusing to be engulfed in European conflicts. For some time Belgian politicians have looked with interest at Holland and Switzerland with their detached position in European affairs. There has been a growing realisation that the policy of strategic alliances with the great Powers, carrying with them the obligations of the Locarno agreement, was the wrong policy for Belgium, so long as Holland, without entering into any commitments, secured her inviolabilit y as a right and not as the subject of any agreement. Since October Belgium has steadily endeavoured to recover full independence of action, and secure unilateral guarantees of neutrality from France and Britain, while entering into no further commitment than that of providing a military machine big enough to dissuade any of her neighbours from using her territory to attack another State. What Belgium wants —and what she has now apparently obtained—is a guarantee from Grea t Britain that she will defend Belgian territory against aggression. The recognition of her neutrality serves merely to confirm an as surance that has always been understood, in Britain, at least. Bel gium desires, as the Flemish Nationalists put it, “complete independence based on Britain. She is ready to strengthen her army so as to offer the maximum deterrent to a possible aggressor, but she pins her ultimate hope in Mr. Baldwin's declaration that the British frontier begins on the Rhine.