Word: belgian
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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...Belgian people saw their handsome young King Leopold III emerge decisively last week from his grief-stricken brooding over the death of his beloved Queen Astrid (TIME. Sept. 9, 1935) and strike a heavy blow of statecraft which resounded from one end of Europe to the other. To the neat, bright Royal Palace in Brussels were summoned Premier-Professor Paul van Zeeland and Cabinet to hear an historic declaration reversing the post-War foreign policy of Belgium. By boldly assuming full responsibility for what he said, His Majesty raised his declaration above the cockpit of party politics, placed...
Since the Treaty of Versailles was signed, the Kingdom of the Belgians has relied not on its ancient neutrality but upon the League of Nations, the Locarno Pact and more especially upon the British and the French for protection against an other onslaught. In recent months the British have not only winked at German violations of the Treaty of Versailles but have compounded with Adolf Hitler by signing an Anglo-German Treaty authorizing Berlin to build a potent Reich Navy (TIME, June 24, 1935). Neither the British nor the French replied with force - the only language the Nazis under stand...
Outside Quarrels. Plainly referring to the Franco-Belgian alliance which his royal words served virtually to disrupt last week, His Majesty said: "Any unilateral policy weakens our position abroad and excites, rightly or wrongly, a division at home. An alliance, even if it is purely defensive, does not achieve its purpose because, however prompt might be the aid from our ally, it would come only after an onslaught by an invading army which would be devastating. In any event, we should have to struggle single-handed against that onslaught...
...That is why we must follow a policy exclusively and entirely Belgian. The policy must aim solely at placing us outside the quarrels of our neighbors. It corresponds to our national ideal. It can be maintained by a reasonable military and financial effort, and it would command the support of all the Belgians, who are inspired by an intense and basic desire for peace...
...learned of King Leopold's declaration when he read it in the newspapers, went into a huddle with Premier Blum, Defense Minister Daladier and General Gamelin, the French chief-of-staff. In an effort to gain time, M. Delbos presently dispatched to Brussels five questions as to the Belgian Cabinet's intentions, and obtained lukewarm assurances from Belgian Foreign Minister Spaak that existing Franco-Belgian staff consultations will not be disturbed. It appeared, however, that the French General Staff must thoroughly overhaul its plans and that possibly France may have to extend her $300,000,000 Maginot Line...