FRANCE'S ATTITUDE.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 June 1917, Page 2

FRANCE'S ATTITUDE.

THE SENATE’S DESIRE

TO SHOW UNISON.

[‘‘reuter’s” telegram.]

(Received This Day at 9.30. a'.m.) PARIS, Juno 7.

In the Senate, M. Requouanset introduced an interpellation inviting M. Ribot to define the general Policy of France who said tho Senate was un-

animously indignant when seven Frenchmen proposed to go to Stockholm to confk with Germans. It wished to share the Government responsibilities (being unable to admit that Frenchmen should ehpw the least sign of yielding at any moment, es pecially when the struggle was at its hardest, because the end is approacaing. -

Can we leavo such an illusion in the public mind, as (the Army or France requires all its* strength to befits free men.

Wo do not seek captious or equivoformula. We rejected the trap laid in tho seductive formula, which had not originated in Petrograd, but from elsewhere, the birthplace whereor was only too obvious: The words “no annexations” cannot mean we have no right to demand what belongs to us, namely, Akace(Lorraine which has never ceased to be Frenoh at heart,' ,-dince the abominable act which isolated justice and right in the fight iia 1871. But what is meant by “no indemnities?” If it is a question of humbling tho conquered, we have nothing to do with but no IVench Government could renounce reparation for the • damages and atrocities after the unprecedented devastation of our territory. It is not an arbitrary Act, but an act of justice, which is .our aim. We are convinced we will find these ideas reflected in President Wilson’s note to Petrograd. We are thus in complete agreement with thg conscience of the civilised world; The resolution was adopted by v.,» Chamber. M. Ribot added —we must demand guarantees to safeguard our children from a return of such horrors. Shall we find them in territorial acquisitions or in temporary occupations of territory? All these questions will be considered when the time comes. Our best guarantee would be the reformation ot Europe, wherein all nations belong w themselves, where no single man can let" loose such evils. If neoessary, the Germans should oonsent, for I believe in the power of ideas of justice. All -those who fought together to thes en wil find no need of separating. After victory they must form a (League of peace in the true democratic spirit, which France had Hie honour of introducing to the world. We nations in army form a society of nations, wherein the future of humanity lies. All the nations which are not nations of prey must unite to prevent disturbing peaco.