The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET, AUCKLAND TUESDAY, JULY 30, 1929 A SALUTE TO FRANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 728, 30 July 1929, Page 8

The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET, AUCKLAND TUESDAY, JULY 30, 1929 A SALUTE TO FRANCE

AUCKLAND, the first port of call for the French cruiser Tourville in the wide, far seas of New Zealand and Australia, is today in friendship and vivid memory a port of France. It welcomes the sons of France not only as firm friends and staunch allies of other days, hut as brothers now and in the future. The beautiful cruiser flying the Tricoloi'e in this quiet haven under the British Flag recalls the young- manhood’s past of this generation, its glorious service and achievement on battlefields and on historic seas, and all the mutual sacrifice of Poilu and Matelot, of their comrades the Anzacs, and the other gallant lads, soldiers and sailors of the British Empire. Fifteen years ago they all leapt in quick courage to the call of Anglo-French bugles. A long time in the hurried memories of modern life, but not too long to dim remembrance or weaken the triumphant test of the character of their nations. Speaking for a community of patriotic citizens The Sun proffers a joyous welcome to the voyaging- representatives of France, to the officers and men of the Tourville, the grace and power of which symbolise peace and friendly purpose. There will be no hesitation among this people to give in greeting to proved friends the right hand of fellowship, the kindness of true welcome and the deep honest sentiment which unites two countries—geographically far apart—in friendship and a common desire for progress and peace. Though it is easier to see and talk about the sentimental aspect and value of such naval visits from oversea countries, there is a practical side to them which should gain the serious consideration of the people of each nation concerned in their purpose and success. It was the greatest of all wars that made France and Great Britain the greatest of allies in opposition to ruthless aggression. Today, it is the international movement toward peace that should make and keep these two great Powers firm allies in a greater cause. It lias been observed by students of history that nothing good can be accomplished in Europe without a FrancoBritish entente. There certainly is much truth in that observation. But it does not necessarily follow that the entente should find expression and enterprise in entering into bargains and pacts for military and naval defence. Let it he for peace! Some hard things have been said in recent years about the hardness of French polities in relation to reparations and interAllied debts. Most of that talk was due either to mental confusion or to selfish vision of complex problems. France before the war was a smiling garden most admirably arranged, and broken only by trim cities and neat and effective factories in which everywhere a brisk nation' was alert in enterprise and industry. After four years.of destructive carnage a great part of that fair land was battered to a shambles, with most of its best industrial fields deliberately changed to devastated areas. Was it to be expected in reason by other nations, which also suffered grievouslj-, that the people of France, with memories of two despoiling invasions within a lifetime, should be soft in their demands for adequate reparations and the restoration of industrial means by which they could meet their war debts? One should look coolly and clearly at everything before adversely criticising the policy of France in a difficult period. Fortunately, France is almost herself again (to use a homely phrase) and since at no time has her honour been challenged in regard to obligations, her Allied creditors need have no fear for tlie future. But the visit of the Tourville to New Zealand is not an occasion for political discussion or anything savouring of recriminatory polities. The siprit of friendship among the naval voyagers is tenderly active at home among their own people. There are 2,000 British war cemeteries in France. These suffer no neglect. As British officials have placed on record, the country-folk along the old war front make faithful pilgrimages to these cemeteries. There is a cult of Sunday visitation, and kindly people reverently wander to and fro among the flowers and the smooth turf of English grass, often bearing personal tributes to the gallant men who were once billeted on their people; “for the children, who are men and women today, remember the strange soldiery that could not talk their tongue, hut played with them.” For that and much else besides, Auckland gladly will be a kindly homeland to the youthful naval company in the Tourville.