According to "Lo Soir," the broad lines of a military alliance between France and Belgium have been decided upon as the result of conversations which took place between Marshal Foch- and General Maglinse, Chief of the Belgian General Staff, The question of this alliance, it is stated, was first raised in August of last year, when M. Clemenceau broached the subject to M. Hymans. Belgium is said to have been anxious to find support in a tripartite military alliance with both France and Great—Britain, but "since England did not come to take part in the present conversations," she did not hesitate to link herself with France. "There are good reasons to think," adds "Lo Soir," "that once the Franco-Belgian bloc has been constituted England will soon give her adherence to it.""
The alliance, which is to be essentially defensive in character, will be for a period of five to 15 years. Its object is the defence of the French and Belgian frontiers, and there is to be no political alliance such as might drag Belgium into a colonial war, Belgium will retain complete independence and sovereignty. She will undertake, however, to maintain under the colours a stronger army than that of pre-war days, and the fortress of Antwerp, With other fortresses, will be restored to efficiency.
The elaboration of details is to be carried out by experts, each country appointing representatives of its artillery, cavalry, infantry, engineers, air service and General Staff for this purpose.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.