The Washington times., 1920-09-27
FACES
HARDPROBLEM|
Must Pass on Validity Of Secret
Treaty Between France
and Belgium.

LONDON, Sept. 27.-The Franco,
Belgian military treaty which re
Gently was officially ratified by Bel
gium. will present a difncult problem
tor the legal section Of the League OF
Nations. according to the belief ex-
pressed by diplomatic officials here
Belgium eNd France are entering
upon a treaty whereby esch uhuer-
takes to act in conjunction win the
other in case OF external aggression
by any European nation.
That much OF the treaty context Is
public property. But the pact goes
farther. 1t was partially compiled by
Marshal Foch for the French and
General Maglinse for the Belgians
These two military experts outlined
In detail and Incorporated In the
treaty just what military tactics were
to be employed in case either country
were attacked by Germany.
BOTH MEMBERS OF LEAGUE.
Both Belgium and France are mem
bers Of the League OF Nations. Under
the covenant both are obliged to de-
posit with the league for publication
any treaties. whether military or
commercial, drawn up since the
League came into existence.
Obviously, neither nation has any
objection to the public knowing they
have entered defensive alliance
against a common enemy But from
strategical standpoint neither viii be
willing to divulge the details. such
action would nullify any beneht that
might be derived.
n ,s, l,at a n
not apply to military plans, and that
there may be, quite properly, agree
ments relating to mutual defense
which can be preserved as secret.
sHUN .OPEN COVENANTS"
Without doubt both France and
Belgium realize that once the door OF
secret diplomacy is opened 1t will be
hard to close it again. Also it Will
be difficult to discriminate between
what shall be given to the public and
what shall not. And military agree
ments, the most dangerous kind of
secret diplomacy, are precisely the
kind that the League of Nations is
intended to discourage.
There was no particular reason why
the Franco-British treaty should be
kept secret as to details. The pro-
posed convention, 1t is pointed out.
would have been perfectly legal ac-
cording to the covenant On the
other hand, the present military al
lance is characterized as mot legal
but highly desirable from the view
point Of both parties concerned"
UNDER SINGLE COMMAND.
Under the treaty. it is said, the
United French and Belgian armies
are under a single command-French
The pact is to come into operation
automatically with the end OF the
present occupation arrangements un-
der the treaty OF Versailles. 1t sub
stitutes other defenses for the occu-
patton of the Rhine. Distribution OF
armies and fortresses are determined.
France, officials point out, would
have preferred the triple alliance,
with Great Britain and the United
States. And even now, tnat both of
her former allies have refused to bind
themselves to her, she regards herself as
the outpost of civilization" and con-
sders that she has the right to call
on them for aid If again menacad
AS a safeguard in case the bigger
powers might not act. France is sur
rounding herself with a number of
smaller allies. The treaty with Bel
gium was the first to be consumated.
Her policy toward the little entente"
the new Balkan confederation-will
be along the same lines