SERIOUS POSITION

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20956, 8 November 1939, Page 7

SERIOUS POSITION

INTERNATIONAL SITUATION ROYALTY’S IMPORTANT MOVES CONFERENCE WITH MINISTERS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Nov. 8, 11.25 a.m.) BRUSSELS, Nov. 7 Even members of the Cabinet were ignorant of the precise range of the discussions between King Leopold and Queen Wilhelmina. An official communique states that Their Majesties exchanged views on some aspects of the international situation. A later message announced that King Leopold and the Belgian and Dutch Foreign Ministers conferred, after which King Leopold saw Queen Wilhelmina. COPENHAGEN, Nov. 7 The Amsterdam correspondent of the Politiken states that the discussions ranged over the international situation, which is most serious as far as Belgium and Holland are concerned. Demands by Germany , . The official spokesman categorically denied rumours that the meeting of King Leopold and Queen Wilhelmina resulted from a German demand that Belgium remain neutral if Holland were attacked. The Belgian Cabinet was unexpectedly summoned. THE HAGUE, Nov. 7 The Foreign Minister conversed with the Luxembourg Foreign Minister by telephone. Reports that Germany demanded assurances of Belgian neutrality are denied. Crowds gathered outside the Palace. King Leopold was seen striding up and down a room gesticulating emotionally while conversing with the Dutch Foreign Minister. A Berlin message states that, disappointed by the lack of firmness of neutral States especially Belgium and Holland, Germany will shortly embark on a press campaign to impress upon neutrals in the plainest terms that they must demand that England shall cease from holding up neutral ships indeja finitely. The German Foreign Office commenting on the conbetween Queen Wilhelmina King Leopold after King Leoreturn to Brussels, declared the small Powers must do more make paper complaints about British blockade. ||gH Charges By Germany German Foreign Office spokes- [ continued: "A test case should j been forced long ago. but on | contrary the neutral States I allowed Britain to hold ships for weeks, which is inwith true neutrality." The German press simultaneously the small neutral States for unwillingness to delend titcir