BELGIUM REPLIES TO BRITISH MEMO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18055, 15 January 1927, Page 10

BELGIUM REPLIES TO BRITISH MEMO.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Aus. and X.Z. Cable Association. (Received January 15, 3.30 p.m".) BRUSSELS, January 14. The Belgian reply to the British Memorandum regarding China was handed to the Britsih Ambassador in Brussels oq Tuesday. It completely shares the opinion of the British Government that it is impossible to refuse complete sympathy with the National movement in China. The Belgian Government, while confirming immediate and unconditional adhesion to the granting of the Washington surtaxes and the British suggestions as regards extra territoriality, is of the opinion that the collective declaration, suggested in the British Memorandum, in regard to the policy to be followed towards China by the signatories to the Washington Treaty, is at present nei’ther opportune nor possible. Several Powers already have rejected the proposal. Moreover, it is to be feared that in the present frame of mind of China, a collective declaration, howver wide and liberal it might be, would create more distrust than satisfaction and, any way, it would give rise to erroneous interpretations. Belgium, however, wishes that in the establishment of a Government in China with authority to speak in the name of a sovereign, united people, Chinese national aspirations should receive the greatest possible degree of satisfaction by means of agreements willingly reached, which at the same time woul dassure all foreigners of the same treatment and the same guarantees.