Belgium urges "priority for material damages," in which category, by
a friendly movement towards our- selves, she would include the losses of British shipping. But what does this scheme of priority mean when it is worked out ? Apparently the British percentage of reparations would be reduced from 22 to just over 18 and the Italian share from 10 to just over 2.. The truth is that. the Belgian Note follows the French Note in accepting the generous _British offer to remit debts, but in rejecting all the conditions on which that offer was made. It also follows the French Note in proposing that Great Britain should make still further sacrifices. It is worth noting that Belgium has made a point of asking for the security of those countries which suffered German invasion. We have always held that military guarantees of security ought to be given. Lately France has allowed the subject- to fade into -the background, but-we are glad that Belgium has reopened it as it gives Great Britain an opportunity of saying that our policy as regards Germany does not in any way whatever prevent - us from promising the military security of France and Belgium. * * *
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