“ADMIRABLE ALLIANCE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 49, 20 May 1927, Page 11

“ADMIRABLE ALLIANCE”

FRANCE AND ENGLAND TOGETHER SEEKING PEACE A DEEP FRIENDSHIP By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Wednesday. The luncheon given by the Lord Mayor and the Corporation of the City of London in honour of President Doumergue was a brilliant function. The Fresident was accompanied by M. Briand. French Foreign Minister. Prince Henry and Prince Arthur of Connaught attended, and SSO prominent citizens represented the Church, the State, Finance, Commerce and Arts. Sir Austen Chamberlain, Mr. Winston Churchill and Sir William Joyji-son-Hicks were among the Ministers present. An address of welcome was first read by the recorder and then presented to M. Doumergue in a gold casket. In proposing President Doumergue’s health, the Lord Mayor spoke of the feelings of affection entertained in Britain for the great and friendly nation which was her nearest neighbour and staunch ally. • President Doumergue, in replying, said that the French people reciprocated the sentiments of friendship expressed by the Lord Mayor and the sources of that friendship went very deep. “They certainly must be sought/' he said, “in the esteem which the generous and chivalrous ciaracter of each of the peoples has inspired in each other in the course of their old conflicts and by-gone struggles. “Our two countries, who were unable to prevent war, were, by their friendship and alliance able to gain a victory through creating between themselves an admirable alliance and absolute confidence. Thanks to this they were able, without restriction or reserve, to apply to the common cause their forces and their resources of every kind, and to draw to their support many people attracted alike by the magnificent spectalce of their heroism a.nd the justice of their cause, -.very sincere friend of peace would feel perhaps some anxiety should it seem one day that our friendship was less active and our Entente less cordial. Such an eventuality happily was not to be feared, for our peoples, knowing the value of the prize of peace, and remembering the sorrows of war, were ambitious only to direct their activities and those of humanity generally toward the undertakings and enterprises of the creative work of civilisation and progress, both material and moral.'* A dinner was given this evening in honour of the President at the Foreign Office by Sir Austen Chamberlain. The Prince of Wales was present and lne guests included the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet, leaders °* the Liberal and Labour Parses, and the high officials of the foreign Office.—A. and N.Z.