BRITAIN AND FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 119, 13 February 1919, Page 5

BRITAIN AND FRANCE

"UNITED FOR EVER" •PRESIDENT POINCARE'S SPEECH AT THE ELYSEE. 'At the banquet given to Kin?; George on November 28"nt.the Elyseo, President' Poincare spoke as follows:— Sire, on April-21, 19M, Your Majesty, ■whom the people.of Paris.greeted as they do to-day with l prolonged acclamation, . recalled to. memory in this very room, the agreements- concluded ten years before between our two* countries, and, replying to the wishes to ,wh'ich ; 'l gave expression in the name of France, Your Majesty eloquently explained (ho: pacific character of the Entente, gradually gone beyond its original stipri-' lations, was henceforth uniting the two great free nations in'their work of civilisation and progress. Three months later the Central-Empires, whoso arrogant and aggressive policy .had already' menacedfor a long time past the independence of small neighbouring States, the dignity of France, and the : pence, pf| Europe, abruptly stifled our words of peace in the tumult of war.-' Drunk with pride, they cast their .insolent challenge in the face of fate, and inflicted upon human- . ity the most frightful war which it has ever known. •■'■!..-.. -At the'-first.breath of tho hurricane, France,, which foresaw its violence and extent, confidently turned towards England, and I myself, relying on letters exchanged in 1912 between our two Governments, made an appeal to the prudence and wisdom of Yom-Majestv in an effort to conjure up the growing" peril. Our efforts were in rain. During some long days of. agitation and anxiety England and Franco in close unity did' everything to avoid war. But Germany was determined to push her horrible design to extremes, and nothing succeeded 'in turning her from her. purpose. Contemptuous of .the most solemn treaties, she hurled herself upon Belgium. The same indignation and the same revolt of conscience burst forth on both sides of the Channel, and the intimacy which until the last moment had presided at the negotiations, carried on between %L'V£ ler to * vvo tl "> Peaco and security of Europe -was at once confirmed in the-preparations for the war imposed on ■■■ us. It was then that to a history so -rich m magnificent pages Great Britain added an incomparable chapter, not only of naval ami military glory,-but of moral strength and human greatness bhe realised at once that hostilities would be long and would demand of the British Mipire the gradual formation of a powerfnl army and the creation of enormous quantities of material. The enormousness ot the task did. not frighten her at all. bho called to the work all her Dominions •and all her-colonies; and from one end ot the world to the other a cry of love was the reply. _ I do not know of a finer spectacle than that-of peoples.scattered over trie face of the earth rising at tho same moment and with tho- same spirit in order to Y& ? th ° ,", ul of tlle Jlothei ' Country, vtiiat a noble recompense has the spirit ot liberty which has always inspired the administration of the British Empire received in this universal fidelitv! Enlarged by all these contingents the armies of Groat Britain have during the whole of the war gamed in experience and improved their tactics of warfare, and have paved the way by more and more striking successes for that marvellous series ot victories which have compelled the enemy to solicit an armistice. ■ I thank Your Majesty for having given me the opportunity of visiting' with, you on several occasions your gallant divisions, ally admiration has not ceased to grow with tho years. In the same time the British Fleet, aided by the Allied squadrons, was maintaining the mastery of the seas, was tightening the blockade of Germany, and was assuring the American troops the free passage across the ocean. Sire! the heart of, France is incapable of forgetting. It will always reraembertho great services' of England in the common cause. The pre-war friendship has been changed n/i the battlefields into an active alliance'which is about to find in -the forthcoming negotiations a new utility, and the beneficent efforts of which will not disappear with the last smoke of battle. ,Tust : as we have kept side by side in the fatigues and perils of war, so we shall.find ourselves ngnin side by side in the works and pleasures of peace. ■ Together wo have suffered, together we have fought, together we have conquered. AVo are united for ever. It is with this firm hope I hat I raise my glass in honour qf .Your Majesty, of Her Majesty the Queen, of Her Majesty. Queen AlexBjdrarof Their Royal Highnesses the jPtinco of Wales and Prince Albert, and izt the -entire Royal family, I drink to the greatness and to, the prosperity of the United Kingdom and of the British Empire, -