Evening star., 1937-05-23
LONDON AND PARIS
MAP AIR DEFENSE
Study New Security Plan
Due to Change in Be|gium's
Neutrality Policy.


xntton occnsioned BY Belgiun,'s neto
neutrality policy, creating ne,D fears
n London and Paris as to Franco
British security, are linked tDith the
current uisit to Brussels OF the
french foreign minister, Yuon Del
bos. The problems raised by the
neu diplomatic and military fac
tors are discussed here by the diplo-
matte correspondent OF La Petit
PdrtSien.
BRUSSELS, May % N.A.NA).-
The defense of paris and London
against possible attack by German
air squadrons enters heavily into
speculations arising out Of the cur
rent visit to Brussels of the French
foreign minister, Yvon Delbos.
No doubt is entertained that, should
an armed conflict develop between
the Reich on one side and England
and France on the other, London
and Paris would be the first goals
to be aimed at by German aviation.
Both cities are particularly vulnerable
to air attacks; their area is immense,
their populations closely packed; they
are surrounded by a multitude Of
factories indispensable to national de-
tense and. finally they are the seat
OF their respective governments.
Now, the Franco-British declara-
ton of April "a. releasing Belgium
from the obligations she had con-
tracted at Locarno in 1925 and at
London in 1886, threw an entirely
new light upon the problem Of
Franco-British security. The new
Belgian statute has been seriously
worrying the official circles Of both
London and Paris.
Military Alliance Out.
In virtue Of the independent at
titude Belgium has taken, there can
be no question of military alliances
or general staff agreements with her.
Therefore, in case OF conflict, the prac-
tical value Of French and British
guarantees would be at great dis
count. Interventions In defense Of
attacked Belgium could not in the
future be inspired by political, but
only by purely military considera-
tions. Thus, French and British in
fantry divisions, in case Of German
attack, would not be expected to come
to the rescue of Belgian troops on
the Albert Canal, between the Meuse
River and the Ardennes Mountains.
They would simply deploy progress
sively along the maritime regions and
the southern part Of Belgium, along
the Scheldt.
Such a prospect, OF course, causes
uneasiness not only among the
French but also the Belgian Walloons,
who have always been decided par
tisans OF the straight Anglo-Franco-
Belgian collaboration policy Of the
late King Albert. For does not the
declaration OF April a mean in effect
that, in case of another European
war, the European battlefield would
be transferred from the Rhineland
to the Walloon country? And no
Belgian has any illusions about the
defensive powers of his army, which,
no matter how hard it fought, could
not expect to hold indefinitely against
the forces Of his mighty neighbor.
Contacts to Be Developed.
Belgian Leaders have not closed
their eyes to such q somber perspec-
tive. Recent parliamentary debates
At Brussels have given them the op-
portunity to differentiate between
general staff agreements" and gen.
eral stan contacts" The difference
Is appreciable. but If the French and
Belgian armies keep tn touch With
each other, this will be 4 minor mat
ter
There is reason to believe that these
contacts will be developed. Former
visits to Brussels by Capt. Anthony
Eden and NJ. Delbos seem to have
produced results in this connection
In any event, there is at present no
question whatever of France extend
ing her costly system of frontier
fortincations along the Belgian bor-
der
However, it is the aerial danger,
rather than the terrestrial one, which
affects Franco-British security most
in the light Of the Belgian situation.
Both Paris and London are only 4
short distance from the German bor-
der; London, 800 miles, and Paris,
$50 miles from Cologne. To airplanes
flying at 220 miles an hour, that
means only about an hour and q half
OF flight, also, London Is only 43
miles, or II minutes flight, from the
coastline, and Paris, only 124 miles
away from the French coast, or some
35 minutes fight.
Three Things Necessary.
To insure the aerial protection Of
= great city, three things are neces-
sary: First, a detection and alarm
service; second, pursuit squadrons,
which. acting in concert with anti.