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Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1928, Page 2

At a conference of the British Legion held in London in June at which there were 4000 veterans representing all the illeets and armies present, the place of the first president of the Legion, the late Earl Haig, was taken by Earl Jell icon. In the course of an address Marshall Focli spoke to. the delegates in French as dear comrades, and spoke of his satisfaction at finding himself among the old ex-Service men of the British Army on their own soil, displaying in their work during these days of peace the same qualities which made their strength during tho war. In this reunion his thoughts were still with their noble dead, and with all who had since succumbed to their wounds or to the hardships of the struggle. Ten years ago to that very day, when the blue sky of France was strangely darkened at the Cliomin des Dames, five English divisions struggled beside the sadly tried French divisions in meeting the danger created by a gap which threatened Paris. Comradeship, which emanated alike from tho highest chief and tho simple private, and saw only the common interest, was the rule of conduct of Governments as with the soldiers in the war, and the Entente- Cordiale became during hostilities a living and fecund reality. When facing to-day tlie problems of .peace, they experienced difficulties similar to those which were met during the war and was it not up to them, and for their edification, to remember the lossons of tho past? “Whether it is to gain a victory or to re-establish the productive activities of poace, tho same unity of effort is needed. Four yeans were necessary to prepare and assure our common victory. It will take even longer to maintain and reinforce that peace which is tho outcome of it all. Time is indispensable to all great work in order to settle the foundations, to prepare the plan, and to ensure the execution of the whole. Time is still more necessary when it is a question of collnboration between our two countries to safeguard this peace. Neither in peace nor in war is cither of our countries sufficient in itself to hold against the activities, even peaceful, of a nation with a population so much larger. Let us not forget it is our common cause, it is our unbreakable union, which has wrested the victory. It is also common action and tenacious holding to the same ideas, thoughts and decisions in the political or economic domain that will assure us of the prosperity of our two countries. Furthermore, the Entente will he fruitful in results. After having won the common victory, it will assure a prosperous peace, hut under one condition—that it is not to be merely a word.”