NAZI SCHEME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 July 1940, Page 5

NAZI SCHEME

PROPOSAL TO DESTROY BELGIUM CREATION OF BIG VASSAL STATE. INCLUDING FRENCH & DUTCH TERRITORY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 26. The “Daily Telegraph” gives prominence to what purports to be a German plan to destroy Belgium as an independent nation and create a vast vassal State acting like a buffer between Germany and Britain. It says reliable information from Belgium and inspired comments by the Italian and German Press and radio indicate that Germany aims to reconstitute Flanders with notable additions at the expense of Belgium. France and Holland. The opinion is expressed in Belgium that Germany realises that she will not conquer Britain by invasion, and for this reason is attempting to build up a barrier against British offensive action. The new State would have a sea coast from the ridge behind Boulogne to the northern Scheldt, embracing the islands of southern Zeeland. Calais, Dunkirk, Ostend. Zeebrugge, Flushing, Antwerp, and the Hook of Holland would be maritime bases, and the whole plain of Flanders an air base. In addition to the provinces of east and west Flanders, the new State would include the Belgian province of Antwerp and Belgian and Dutch Limbourg, in order to provide access to the North Sea and the great part of the French northern provinces.

The German destruction of French liberties is furthered by the creation of the Breton National Council, which, according to the German news agency, has proclaimed the new national State of Brittany, independent from France, with which future relations would be regulated by treaty.