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45
was because of that that Germany on
the 13th of October 19371 in the next document — gave a very clear
and unconditional guarantee to Belgium — Document TC-34, which I
offer in evidence as Exhibit GB-100 — the German declaration of the
13th of October 1937, which shows the minutes:
"I
have the honor on behalf of the German Government to make the
following communication to Your Excellency:
"The German
Government have taken cognizance with particular interest of the
public declaration in which the Belgian Government define the
international position of Belgium. For their part they have repeatedly
given expression, especially through the declaration of the Chancellor
of the German Reich in his speech of the 30th of January 1937, to
their own point of view. The German Government have also taken
cognizance of the declaration made by the British and French
Governments on the 24th of April 1937."
That
is a document to which I have previously referred.
"Since
the conclusion of a treaty to replace the Treaty of Locarno may still
take some time and being desirous of strengthening the peaceful
aspirations of the two countries, the German Government regard it as
appropriate to define now their own attitude towards Belgium. To this
end they make the following declaration:
"First:
The German Government have taken note of the views which the Belgian
Government have thought fit to express. That is to say, (a) of the
policy of independence which they intend to exercise in full
sovereignty; (b) of their determination to defend the frontiers of
Belgium with all their forces against any aggression or invasion and
to prevent Belgian territory from being used for purposes of
aggression against another state as a passage or as a base of
operation by land, by sea, or in the air, and to organize the defense
of Belgium in an efficient manner to this purpose.
"Second:
The German Government consider that the inviolability and integrity of
Belgium are common interests of the Western Powers. They confirm their
determination that in no circumstances will they impair this
inviolability and integrity, and that they will at all times respect
Belgian territory except, of course, in the event of Belgium's taking
part in a military action directed against Germany in an armed
conflict in which Germany is involved.
"Third: The
German Government, like the British and French Governments, are
prepared to assist Belgium should she be subjected to an attack or to
invasion."