BELGIUM EXPLAINS ΤΟ BRITAIN
KING'S
DECLARATION
MISAPPREHENSIONS
League Obligations To Be Observed
London, October 16.
The terms of King Leopold's speech to the Council of Ministers was officially drawn to the notice of the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden last evening when the Belgian Ambassador, Baron de Cartier de Marchienne called at the Foreign Office to give explana. tlors authorised by his Government." In the speech it was declared that Belgium must follow a policy exclusive Belgian, and the must alm resolutely at placing ourselves monarch proceeded: "We outside the confilets of our neighbours. Those who doubt the pos sibilities of such a policy should consider the examples of Holland and Switzerland."
It is understood that the Ambassador assured Mr. Eden that many of the interpretations placed on the speech abroad were based on misapprehenstans and, in particulär, that Belgium had no inten- tion of repudiating her obligations and particularly those arising out of the League 'Covenant.
BRITISH
PRESS
.
Bre the
COMMENT
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1936.
GERMAN VISIT
TO ITALY
14
>>
Air Officers On Inspection
FORTY-HOUR HINDU-MOSLEM BAFFLING MURDER
WEEK
French Employers
Grow Stubborn
"Hong Kong Daily Press" Special) ("Hong Kong Daily Press" Special)
Rome. October 18. |
A verr cordial reception was accorded here to State Secretary Generul Mitch of the German Ministry of Aviation who with several of the Air Force officers arrived on Thursday to stay in the Italian capital for several days as guests of the Italian State Secretary General Valle.
Both at the aerodrome where Milch and his party landed and at the tomb of the Italian Un- known Soldier. several hundred Air Force officers besides the guard of honour were present and emphasised by their presence the significance of the occasion.
After inspection of the Italian Air Ministry on Thursday after- noon, Valle gave a smoking con- cert in the evening in honour of the guests, a large number at the Italian army and airmen being present.
The programme of inspection of a series of Italian aerodromes in and near Rome began on Friday morning. Vale, General Porro. Commander-in-Chier of the air defences of Rome, accompanying the guests.
Milch on arrival at the aerodrome and at the other events of the day. -Transocean News Service.
The Itallan press published a The "Manchester Guardian” mys į great number of pictures showing that the proposed Belgian neu- trality would not necessarily pre- vent a new Western Pact for the other four powers might agree to guarantee her neutrality without asking for reciprocal guarantees as was the case before 1914.
The newspapers here examine others lies in the firm establish- the speech calmly and yaipathediment of a system of collective cally and the dec.aratons
securt: y." in relation to considered Belgian Ündertakings not only under the League but also under the Franco-Belgian defence and 1930 and millary agreement of "under the Locarno and its subse- quent agreements, including the temporary one reached after Ger- many broke the treaty, in March. This last agreement hound the participants to observe their Locarno obligations and to engage in stab talks-an arrangement! British Wireles. that was to last until the conclu- sion of new security pacts in the West on until the failure of effort of conciliation brought several letters of assurance to France and Belginn into force.
It would, however, prevent the suggested pact between France. Britain and Belgium from coming into force if negotiations fall-
FRENCH ENQUIRY
Paris. Oct. 15.
It is understood that a French note to be presented to the Bel- gian Government will ask for the Brussels conception of neutrality IRREGULAR PROCEDURE
and will put other pointed ques- The "Times" which draws at tions to King Leopold's Ministers tention to the somewhat irregular" | regarding Belgium's obligations procedure in making a declaration in other matters. in view of the fact that there was agreement between the Locarno signatories
to
Western abstain from anlisteral pronouncements of such wide import during the present discussions,
it is
says
plain that the revised conception of Belgium's future policy must be
NO SUPPORT FROM BRITAIN
Paris. Oct. 16. Resistance to the adoption in practice of a forty-hour working week is established by the law and grows more stubborn every day employers taking the advantage of the difficulties which are arising from the devaluation of the French trane to claim lengthy postpone ment of the date for beginning the new system.
The Federation of French wor len industries have just petitioned the Government to delay introduc- tion of the forty-hour working week until the matter is regulated Internationally, otherwise it is as- serted that the French woollen textile industry would be unable to compete on the world market- THI THỰC HƯ Neur Service
NON-INTERVENTION COMMITTEE
Soviet Efforts To Secure Action
-
the
ac-
London. Oct.15. The Soviet Government is still making unremitting efforts in London to get some action under- taker. in favour of the Madrid Government. On Thursday Soviet Ambassador Mainsky companied by the Charge d'Af- Iairs Kogan. again visited Lord Plymouth, the President of the non-intervention committee. The Soviet Ambassador, it is stated, re- peated his demand for a convoca- tion of the Committee in order to examine the last Soviet note. Meanwhile Portugal's answer to London, Oct. 15.
the reference in the Soviet note A statement issued here from that ammunitioh is being suppli- official sources declares that theed through her ports to supply the conjecture expressed in... Paris that the Belgian declaration of neutral- ty was issued with support or at least silent approval of England. is completely false.
Belgian Neutrality Decision
nationalists. has been received by the Foreign Ofce. The Portu- guese Government repudiates these charges and accepts the Soviet proposal that the Commit- England, so the statement de
tee examine the situation on the clares, was prepared for a deve Hispano-Portuguese,. frontier, un- lopment of this nature, but con-der the condition that a similar trary to supporting such a mea-examination be carried out in the sure, England even tried to dis- harbours in the hands of the allade Belgium from such & course. Spanish Government.-
The opinion expressed in the Trunioren News Server
France is anxious to discover what repercussions the new Bel- glan policy of neutrality will have on the accord between the French and Belgian General Staffs, and the French Government will ques-London press is that the Belgian tion Belgium on her atitude to wards the League of Nations
Reuter.
BELGIAN INTENTIONS
a matter of concern Lo Great Covenant.- Britain. Its bearing upon the negotiations for a new Locarno will be carefully and sympatheti- cally considered. It will certainly not influence public opinion in this country to belleve that there should be any slackening of the endeavour to bring about a fresh European understanding
Brussels, Oct. 15.
in which he declared that Belgium would in future maintain a strictly
in force.
PORTUGAL'S REPLY
action cast a bomb into interna- tional politics and upset the well
London, Oct. 15. fald plans of the diplomats. The The Portuguese-reply" to the question is brought up what effect Soviet accusations that principal the declaration-of absolute neutra supply of arms for the Spanish in- Uty will have on the old Locarno surgents were going through For Pact, since England maintains tuguese ports, has been communi- There is a total absence of off-that the agreement between Eng-cated to Lord Plymouth. cial comment on the speech de-land, France and Belgium is still It is understood that while deny-
vered yesterday by King Leopold,
ing the Russian, allegations, Por- It is obvious, however, that the tagal accepts in' principle that a British public opinion is not shar-Commission of Tiquiry be sent to neutral policy in matters of doing the French dissatisfaction over her soil, provided similar com- fence.
the Belgian action, which is in missions are set up in Spanish fact even welcomed by the groupsports to guard against Infringe who advocate a policy of isolationment of the neutrality part there. in. England,
Lord Plymouth is understood. to From the military point of view. have informed M. Maisky. the the Belgian step is a blow to Eng-Russian Ambassador, that the lish and
French security, since Moscow suggestion that the British British and Erench planes can no and French Deets should watch the cross' "Belgium, nor can Portuguese coast is not a proper Belgian landing or listening posts matter for discussion. He there- be used. It is stated that con- fore did not propose to call a meet- al-siderable conferring will have to ing of the Non-Intervention Com-
Well-informed quarters point out own there is no question of Belglam not recognising her international eng- agements. Consequently she does not envisage withdrawing from the League...
The "Daily Telegraph" says that "whatever her desires may be Belgium сал never rest ber security "wholly upon her strength. Although the European guarantee of Belgian independence has never been abrogated, has in fact been replaced by the more precise undertakings of Locarno The speech re- and the League. quires more elucidation..
"We do not read it as conveying any intention to dispense with the pledges of security sought and given either recently or in the past. Her friends will have no canse for reproach if the purpose of the King is simply to rally all parties in Belgium to the need for avert the a greater sacrifice to possibility of encroachment upon her integrity."
The problem facing the Govern- ment is to determine to what ex-longer tent Belgium. by signing any new Western European, security pact, will go beyond engagements ready made with the League,
Diplomatic circles held that if Belgium does not enter a new western pact she will still be bound by obligations to the League and consequently is not thinking of re- pudiating the principle of colles- tive security. Leuter...
PACTS UPSET
take place between the three coun-mittee. tries, since England especially must M. Malsky palda further visit to know Belgium's attitude, before, the Foreign Office to-day, and it the next pact negotiations can be is believed he again urged the carried out. |
necessity of an early meeting of Transocean #aws Service
the Committee- Keuler.
guaranteed party but Dot a
be a
guarantor.
If this policy is successful then it may open the way for Belgium
INCREASED COPPER
"PRODUCTION
Paris, Oct. 15. Authoritative circles in France believe that King Leopold's Bel- to modify her 1920 defensive agree- glan neutrality statement has ment with France by negotiation, A further increase of five per
MILITARY BALANCE
The "Morning Post" says that mast people will agree that in the new situation Belgium has con- sulted her own best interests by taking this line for she is a small thrown the whole of the post-war power who has no direct concern European system into the melting in the rivalries and antipathies of pot and broken the net-work of the great. Her abstention leaves pacts the nations have concluded the military balance between in search of security. France and Germany for all prac- While official circles decline to tical purposes where it was before. comment, it is generally felt that From the point of view of the speech of the Belgian King France in particular, Belglum is yesterday amounted to a breaking no less a useful guardian of her of "Belgium's alliance with France, flank as neutral than assisting denunciation of the Locarno Fact her as an ally, provided always and withdrawal from the League that Belgium la strong enough to o Nations without notice.--~' preserve her neutrality.
Rester' Rulletin Serupa.
ONLY HOPE
The News Chronicle" questions the practicability of a policy which envisages Belgium as entire-
as
ASSURANCE TO BRITAIN
London, Oct. 16. The Belgian Ambassador called at the Foreign Office yesterday to explain to Mr. Anthony Eden, the
but it is understood that in any event there will be no repudiation on Belgium's part Renter.
ROME AGREES
Rome, Oct. 16. King Leopold's announcement was favourably received here.
Well-informed circles feel Bel- glum's new attitude reveals her desire to follow a more realistic foreign policy, thus approaching more closely to the political line followed by Signor Benito Mus-
solini, Reuter
TO CONSULT BRITAIN~~
Paris, Oct. 16
London, Oct. 13.
cent. in copper production has not surprised the metal markets, and experts hold that if the demand continues at the present rate, and there is no reason why it should not, "the increased output should be easily lapped up."
The biggest buying orders in-the- market to-day were on account
CONFLICT
Fighting Resumed At Dawn
Bombay, Oct. 16. After a few hours' lul in the rioting between Hindus and Mos- lems, fighting began again að dawn.
ave rounds, but the casualties to- The police were obliged to fire
day so far are not known. One hospital up to the present has re- ceived fifty cases of stabbing.
A curfew order, has been promul- gated between the hours eleven at night and six in the morning.
Five hundred district police have been drafted to assist the city police in keeping order.- denter's Bulletin Service..
...
FRENCH POLICY IN SPAIN
www.
Neutrality Question Again Raised
will
MYSTERY
Body Of Foreigner In
.
י
Small House
Victim Of Brutal Attack
Shanghai, October 16,
A baling murder mystery confronts the Settlement Police following the discovery of the body of a foreigner in a small house in Hart Road this morning, apparently the victim of a brutal at- tack.
The man has been tentatively identlibed as D. E. Abraham, aged flity, a British subject of Jewish extraction, who was found » by a coolle who saw the front door open and looked in. The coolle informed the police.
The body way slashed about the face and arms, the skull be- ing crushed in. A meat chopper and hammer were found clase · to the spot where the body lay.——Renter.
FLYING BOAT SQUADRON
Flight To Singapore Commenced
London, Oct. 18.
CONFIDENT
JEAN BATTEN
Tasman Sea Safely Crossed
Auckland, Oct. 16. Jean Batten arrived here safely at 5.05 p.m: (local time) · after crossing the long stretch of 1,000 miles over the Tasman Sea. She was greeted by a huge and excited this crowd and by the manager of the
aerodrome,
("Hong Kong Daily Press" Special)
Paris, October 16. Foreign Minister Delbos appear on October 21 before the Chamber Committee for Foreign. Affairs, which has interested itself In the activities of the Non-
A squadron of Ave Short Singa- Intervention Committee in Lon don. At the Chamber Commis- pore flying boats to increase the on Thursday, the establishment of the Royal Air sion's meeting Communist Deputy Bonte again Force in the Far East egmmand, suggested that Foreign Minister under Wing Commander W. H❘ Delboa once more
Bordeaux go into the Dunn, left for question of French neutrality in morning. They are expected to Spain, but the Radical Socialist reach Singapore early in Novem- It is reported from Sydney that Deputy Belgery and the other ber, travelling by easy stages. prior to her departure for Auch- members strongly opposed the The new squadron has been tem- land, Miss Batten- declared; "It I suggestion, pointing out the grave porarily serving in the Middle East go down in the sea nobody must dangers incurred for European for the past year. They are flying fly out in search of me. I have peace in case of abandonment of to Singapore via Bordeaux, Mar-chosen to undertake a flight and neutrality by. France. The motion seilles. Maita, Abouk'r. Lake i am confident that I can make 15, was accordingly rejected
Habanlyah, Basra, Rassal Kai- but I do not wish to imperil the On the other hand the Commis-mah, Karachi, Allahabad, Calcutta lives of others or cause trouble and sion expressed the wish to obtain and Mergui, a total of 8,000 miles. from the "Foreign Minister in- -Reuter. formation concerning the effect 'which the Belgian policy of neu- trality in European politics may have on French security.- Trunracean News Service
SOVIET AID FOR SPAIN
།།
Stalin's Message
Moscow, Oct. 16. "The tollers of the Soviet Union
!
REBEL ADVANCE ON MADRID
expense." Jeuter.
CHINA NATIONAL CONGRESS
London. Oct. 15. Having launched a big attack
Shanghai, Oct. 16. 30-mile against Madrid along a
The decision to postpone in- front, the insurgents under Gene- definitely the National People's ral Francisco Franco, have already congress announced in Nanking gained important ground in the last evening passes without com- past 24 hours of fighting, accord- ment by most of the newspapers; ing to a broadcast from the rebel | but the "China Times” believes that headquarters in Beville.
the decision is justified by the pre- insurgent sent national crisis..
It is claimed the
The Journal observes that the failure to elect delegates in certain provinces (which is the ostensible
are only fulfilling their duty by troops have advanced from San rendering every assistance in their Martin, occuping Chapteria, only power to the revolutionary masses 25 miles from Madrid, on the direct
reason for postponement) will al- in Spain," says M. Stalin, Russia's road to the capital. chief executive, in a
It is also cla'med that Colonel ways prove a stumbling" "block" message to the Central Committee of the Yague's column tas advanced Nevertheless it urges the people to Spanish Communist Party.
several more miles, while Colonel loyally support the Kuomintang
force has Castejon's
occupied decision since "this is not the time Navas del Ray.
A violent battle ia.now proceed ing between Colonel Degados' men and a Government force Reuter:
He adds: "They realise that the liberation of Spain from the oppression of Fascist reactionaries is not a private affair of Spaniards, but the common cause of all advanced and progressive man- kind." "Rester.
The demand is significant as it indicates the probable course of Borlet opinion is the Ambassador's representations to the London
Non-Intervention Committee are not received sympathetically. Iculer.
FURTHER GAIN
Burgos, Oct. 15. The Nationalist troops have now. reached a point 35 kilometres from Madrid, after having occupied Aldea del Fesno, after a battle
way
to launch a dispute as to whether the period of political tutelage should now give place to a con- stitutional regime,”— Heuter
ri
BANK OF FRANCE MEETING
Strong Objection To M. Jonhaux
WORKERS' DEMAND
Moscow, Oct. 15. The demand that military assistance, should be furnished the Spanish Government if the Soviet's during which the Government diplomats do not succeed in bring-militia lost 150 men and a large ing about an effective neutrality quantity of war materials agreement, was volted" at a mass
("Hong Kong Dally Presa” Special) This victory is or special impor- meeting of workers here to-day.
Paris, Oct. 18. tance, since it gives the National-
The first meeting of the general ist troops command of the high-assembly of the Bank of France leading to Navalcarnero, under the new status proved very. which is the last fortification to stormy. Or the total number " of. the west of Madrid.—-
40,000 shareholders only about Transocean News Service.
1,000 were represented at the meet ing and strongly protested against. the inclusion on the board of directors of the well-known volutionary and Secretary General of the Confederation of Labour, Paris, Oct. 15...
Joubaux In order to give effect, Emissaries bf the Fascists to their protest, the shareholders, arrived here here to negotiate for re-elected three "censors" belong-- the release of Primo de Rivera, ing to the old board and elected: who has been held prisoner for two directors known to be oppon- some time in Alicante, in exchange ents of the Popular Front- for Premier Largo Caballero, who | Transocean News Service. is in the fands of the Nation- allats Transocean News Service”
VIOLATIONS OF FRONTIER
Portuguese Representations To Spain
soon, Oct. 15. The Portuguese Foreign Ministry of consumers, who are faced with reveals in the press the correspon- the largest demand for copper dence with Madrid and Burgos re- for armaments purposes. Thegarding violations of the Portu- market feeling inclines unant guese frontier by Red Millia men mously to the view that higher prices are inevitable in the near future and that the commodity is still very cheap, at the, present prices.
Sentiment was further bolster
ly neutral and does not regard her
more parallel with Holland Foreign Secretary, that there was It is understood the French Goved up by the knowledge that stocks and Switzerland as convincing no question of Belgium repudiatament will consult Great Britala continue to decline, despite the that "Belgium's neutrality did not ing her obligations. He said Bel-with regard to the course to be increases in production. A mode- keep the German armies out of glum remains. loyal to the League taken as a result of the Belgian rately large bull account exists, Belgium in 1914 Nor could any { of Nations.
déclaration of neutrality. It is be which may make for ocesalonal army that Belgium can possibly It is believed the new Belgian leved conversations will also be fuctuations, but this will likely raise suffice to prevent future in-neutrality policy, outlined by the begun with the Belgian Govern- be qutweighed by the persistent
King yesterday, relates principally ment with regard to Ita attitude to excellence of the consumers' de to the coming Locarno negotia- a new Western European pact- maad tions, in which Belgium wishes to Reuter,
Reuter
vasion.
"The only hope of real peace for a country ke Belgium above all
PRIMO DE RIVERA'S RELEASE
OVIEDO SITUATION
REPORTS
London, Oct. 16. The exact situation in Oviedo is impossible to ascertain
The first complaint received" an unsatisfactory reply, and, was re- peated later together with a com- pläint about the attack on the Portuguesa Embassy in Madrid. As no action followed, the com- The insurgents claim that the plaint was referred to the Nationa-relief column formed contact with lists, who were in charge of the the rebel defenders of the town frontier zone, From Burgos it was and is now pushing back the answered with the expression of Government, attackers. regret in the name of the Spanish. A message from Madrid, "how nation and the assertion made ever, claims that the Asturiani, that everything would be done to miners have driven the insurgent provide funds through the "Junta from the fast stronghold of the for the victims
city
Trasancoan Xawn Service.
Reuter'à' Bulletin Service,
ROYAL PALESTINE COMMISSION
London, Oct. 13.
The way has been cleared for the early departure of the Pales- tine Inquiry Commission by an official announcement that no incidents have occurred ip the past twenty-four hours, and the issuing of daily communiques is. being decontinued.
Now that the Government's preliminary condition, namely the restoration of order, is antiszed, preparations are being made for the despatch of the Commission which will probably leave the beginning or November.— Renter's Bulletin Berniée.
*
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