14 MARCH 1925, Page 2

The Belgians will probably be more favourable than the French

to the idea of an enlarged pact, as they have no direct understanding. or alliance with Poland such as France has. They long for a guarantee of their present possessions . and are not much concerned whether the guarantee -comes in a comprehensive or a restricted pact.. It is. not generally known in- this country that the territory which Belgium got from Germany under the -Versailles Treaty—Eupen, Malmedy, etc.—is two and a-half* times the size of the Isle of Wight. It is said that most of the inhabitants of this district are intensely German in character and language. 'This is only What one would expect, as it had belonged to Prussia .since 1815 and therefore was never part of the kingdom of Belgium which was formed in 1830.