FRENCH MISSION.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16428, 23 January 1919, Page 6

FRENCH MISSION.

DINNER AT BELLAMY'S

INTERESTING SPEECHES.

(press association telegram.)

WELLINGTON, January 22

The members of the French Mission were entertained by the New Zealand Government at dinner at Bellamy's last evening.

Sir James Allen, in proposing the i toast of the evening, said the members of the Mission had been throughout the country, had seen its beauties, and had enquired into its trade and commerce. He was sure that they realised that they were tied to' New Zeai laud not only by the sufferings ana i trials of the war, but by their visit to Akarou. where they had become acquainted with the fact that they were tied to this country by blood relationship. tiir James Allen said he thought New Zealand at the outbreak of the war was very anxious to know what the attitude of the Mother Country would be. We knew that our word had been given to Belgium: we realised .iiat we had been in close friendship with France for many years; we were acquainted with the peril and common danger that threatened; and there was something like a sigh of relief in New Zealand, g r eat as the responsibilities were, and terrible as w6 knew the consequences must be, when the Motherland determined to stand for honour. The honour of the Motherland was at stake, and Belgium and France were in danger, and there was no hesitation. There was great consideration, but no hesitation, when it came to the point to decide. We knew the sacrifices wo had to make; we had some idea of what our responsibility would bo, though at the time no nation thought that the war would last for four or five years. We hoped, and it was generally hoped, that the war would bo over in from six to nine months, and it possibly would have been if all the nations had realised the consequences of the war. At the time we came in, our army was probably as efficient as any army in existence, but it was called "contemptible." "To-day, with the co-operation of France and the aid of our Allies, that 'contemptible' army of 1914 has joined with your forces in being the victorious army of 1918." "You have certain demands which you require from us in the way of raw materials, such as wool and so on, and I can assure you that second only to the demands/of our own Motherland, which naturally come first, the demands of Belgium and Frfince are paramount. We know your terrible losses in men and material, in damage to your country, and damage to your buildings and to your sacred possessions, and wo will do what we can to help to restore. The cruel hand which destroyed ought to be made to replace. Common justice and humanity demand that those who destroy should replace. Then, so far as our trade is concerned, this, Bpeaking for the pro-war period, has been comparatively small, but we hope after the war it may be very much and things which we were importing from other countries, may bo imported from Franco. We have a deep, friendly relationship to Franco — not only a blood relationship, but because upon the fiolds of France lie thousands and thousands of the host and bravest of New Zealanders. Wo can never look with complacency on the possibility of that soil being again disturbed by the horrors of. war. • Wo hope it may bo the peaceful land of Franco, and that tho blood of our sons may help to establish the nation." GENERAL PAU'S RESPONSE. General Pau said the Mission had enjoyed Now Zealand's hospitality. They had studied tho products of the country, and teen tho wealth of tho Dominion; they had admired tho country and tho people. Tho New Zealanders, while keeping the traditional temperament of the British, had shown a progressive spirit and ft remarkable boldness in approaching the most difficult social problems. Referring to the war and the victory, achieved, General Pau said the Germans had boon punished because they had violated Divine and human laws. Tho Allies lmd represented tho Iruo spirit of Christianity, while the Germans, although they boasted of being the representatives of God in the world, represented tho old spirit of Paganism and King Odiiv The General addod: "I am afraid thoy are still the same people as before. Are thoy not speaking again of their groat, united Germany? Are they not speaking again of a new German army, more powerful than the old one? Aro thoy not disposed to start again the economic struggle in which they have been foremost, and for which thoy now very likely enjoy the advantage of having great stocks of goods, "and also, I am sorry to say, boats which have been somevhat lightly left to thom, and which will enable them to carry thoir goods iu a better way than we should be ablo to do? That is why, although looking with great trust to a sociotv of nations, I think tho Allies should trust mostly to the union betweon ourselves. We have been united in war, we should he united in peaco; w6 have: been united on the battle field, wo should be united in commerce." Goneral Pau said the mombers of the Mission had been studying the commercial conditions of this country. They believed that the commercial relations betwoen New Zoaland and Fiance wero very much curtailed, but with the help given, thoy felt that they could look with confidence to the futuro. Ho concluded by expressing tho hope that their stav might prove useful in making closer friendly relations betwoen' tho two countries.