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Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10307, 17 January 1927, Page 5

doubts ’whether the joint declaration of policy which Britain suggests is at present advisable.—AJN.Z.Li.A. BELGIUM’S ATTITUDE" BRUSSELS, dan. 14. The Belgian reply to the British memorandum regarding China was handed to the British Ambassador in Brussels on Tuesday. It completely shares the opinion of the British Government that it is impossible to refuse complete sympathy with the national movement in China. The Belgian Government, while confirming its immediate and unconditional adhesion to the granting of the Washington surtaxes and the British suggestions as regards is of opinion the collective declaration suggested in the British memorandum in regard to the policy to be followed toward China by the signatories to the Washington Treaty is at present neither opportune nor possible, several Powers having already rejected the proposal. Moreover, it is to be feared that in the present frame of mind of China a collective declaration, however wide and liberal it might be, would create more distrust than satisfaction and, any way, it would give rise to erroneous interpretations. Belgium, however, wishes that, in the establishment of Government in China with authority to speak in the name of a sovereign and united people, Chinese national aspirations should receive, the greatest possible degree of satisfaction by means of agreements willingly reached which, at the same time, would assure all foreigners of % the same treatment and the same guarantees. —A.N.Z.C.A.