GERMAN DECLARATION OF OCTOBER 13TH, 1937 Monsieur le Ministre,
I have the honour on behalf of the German Government, to make the following communication to your Excellency:
The German Government has taken cognizance, with particular interest, of the public declarations in which the Belgian Government defines the international position of Belgium. For its part, it has repeatedly given expression, especially through the declaration of the Chancellor of the German Reich in his speech of January 30th, 1937 to its own point of view.
The' German Government has also taken cognizance of the declaration made by the British and French Governments on April 24th, 1937.
Since the conclusion of a treaty to replace the Treaty of Locarno may still take some time, and being desirous of strength-
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ening the peaceful aspirations of the tw6 countries, the German Government regards it as appropriate to define now its own, attitude towards Belgium.
To this end it makes the following declaration:
(1) The German Government has taken note, of the views which the Belgian Government has thought fit to express; that is to say:
(a) Of the policy of independence which it intends to exercise in full sovereignty;
, (b) Of its determination to defend the frontiers of Belgium with all its forces against any aggression or invasion, and to prevent Belgium territory from being used, for purposes of aggression against an. other State, as a passage or as a base of operations by land, by sea, or in the air; and to organize the defence of Belgium in an efficient manner for this purpose.
(2) The German Government considers that the inviolability and integrity of Belgium are common interests of the Western Powers. It confirms its determination that in no circumstances will it impair this inviolability and integrity, and that it 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.
(3) The German Government, like the British and French Governments, is prepared to assist Belgium should she be subjected to an attack or to invasion.
I have the honour, etc.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT The Belgian Government has taken note with great satisfaction of the declaration communicated to it this day by the German Government. It thanks the German Government warmly for this communication.
German government's message to Belgium, declaring that it will not violate Belgian territory, with a receipt from Belgium welcoming the message
Authors
Constantin Neurath, von (Baron; foreign minister)
Constantin von Neurath
German general and Nazi war criminal (1873-1956)
- Born: 1873-02-02 (Kleinglattbach)
- Died: 1956-08-14 (Enzweihingen)
- Country of citizenship: Germany
- Occupation: diplomat; lawyer; politician
- Member of political party: Nazi Party
- Member of: Schutzstaffel
- Military rank: Obergruppenführer
- Position held: German Foreign Minister (period: 1932-06-01 through 1938-02-04; replaced by: Joachim von Ribbentrop; replaces: Heinrich Brüning); ambassador
Date: 13 October 1937
Literal Title: German Declaration of October 13th, 1937.
Defendant: Constantin Neurath, von
Total Pages: 2
Language of Text: English
Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)
Evidence Code: TC-34
Citation: IMT (page 1104)
HLSL Item No.: 450858
Notes:Von Neurath is identified as signing the German message in the Blue Set, vol. 39, p. 38.
Document Summary
TC-34: German Declaration to the Belgian Minister, dated 15 October 1937.