Appendix 7

Declaration made by the Ambassador of Great Britain
on August 27th, 1939

HIS Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have neglected no steps which might contribute to the maintenance of peace. Should these efforts fail, they know that Belgium will scrupulously abide by her international obligations. If Belgium adopts an attitude of neutrality, His Majesty's Government will, in accordance with their traditional policy, re resolute and determined to respect this neutrality fully. Only in the event of Belgian neutrality not being respected by other powers would the United Kingdom be led to modify its attitude in order to ensure its own defence. The undertakings of assistance which the United Kingdom has entered into towards Belgium, and which were expressly maintained in the communication to the Belgian Government of April 24th, 1937, naturally retain their full effect.

Declaration made by the Ambassador of France
on August 28th, 1939

FRENCH EMBASSY IN BELGIUM,
BRUSSELS, August 28th, 1939.

THE Government of the Republic have neglected no steps which might contribute to the maintenance of peace. Should these

--70--

AMBASSADE DE FRANCE EN BELGIQUE BRUXELLES, LE 28 Août 1939.   Le Gouvernment de lal République n'a rien négligé de ce qui peut contribuer au maintien de la paix. Si ses efforts venaient à échouer, il sait que le Goungerment Gelge saurait se conformer exactement à ses obligations internnationales. Dans le cas où la Belgique adopterait une position de neutralité, le Gouvernment nFrançais resterait, bien entendu, comme en 1914, résol à respecter pleinement cette neutralité. Ce n'est qu'au cas où la neutralité Belge ne serait pas respectée par une autre Puissance que la France, pur assurer sa propre défense, purrait &eicrc;tre amenée à modifier son attitude. Les engagements d'assistance que le Gouvernment français a pris envers la Belgique et qui ont été expressément maintenus dans sa communication au Gouvernment belge du 24 Avril 1937 conservent naturellement leur pleine valour./. COPY OF A DECLARATION MADE BY THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR, AUGUST 28TH, 1939

--71--

efforts fail, they know that Belgium will scrupulously abide by her international obligations. If Belgium adopts an attitude of neutrality, the French Government will, of course, as in 1914, be resolute to respect this neutrality fully. Only in the event of Belgian neutrality not being respected by another power would France be led to modify its attitude in order to ensure its own defence. The undertakings of assistance which the French Government has entered into towards Belgium, and which were expressly maintained in the communication to the Belgian Government of April 24th, 1937, naturally retain their full effect.

Table of Contents