"Taranaki Central Press” SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1937. BELGIUM’S INDEPENDENCE.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 422, 1 May 1937, Page 4

"Taranaki Central Press” SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1937. BELGIUM’S INDEPENDENCE.

A few months ago the King of Belgium laid it down that his country’s policy must be “exclusively and entirely Belgian” and resolutely aimed “at placing us outside the disputes of our neighbours.” Though it was immediately explained that the King’s words defined an ideal direction and di 4 not signify a rejection of treaty commitments, it was soon clear that Belgium was, in fact, anxious to escape from the obligations wh ch, after the German denunciation of the Locarno agreements, were renewed by France, Great Britain, and Belgium about a year ago; and once this was clear, the end was certain. Belgium’s anxiety to free herself was due, of course, to the unilateral nature of the agreement patched together from the Locarno fragments. The original agreements were an all-in guarantee □ f security. The new engagements bound France, Great Britain, and Belgium in a virtual defensive alliance against Germany. It might have been imagined that Belgium would welcome such a measure of provisional security against the likeliest danger of aggression; but for two reasons, chiefly, Belgium preferred to disentangle herself. First, Belgium distrust of France has increased as French security arrangements have extended, to Russia and to Czechoslovakia, and have widened the frontier of Belgium’s military risk. Second, being committed in this one-sided way. Belgium could not help considering the less responsible state of Holland, Denmark, and Switzerland, or even Norway and Sweden, and envying them their independency Behind this consideration, probably, was another: that Belgium was more likely to obtain a separate guarantee of security from Germany while uncommitted to France and Great Britain than while committed. There may even have been a wiser, more generous, and al the same lime more practical hone: that a new Western pact would be more likely to take shape if Belgium eased the Rhine frontier grouping of the parties concerned. / Whether Belgium has really achieved anything for herself or for Europe by moving France and Great Britain to absolve her from all special obligations is, however, far from certain.