ANGLO-FRENCH RELATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 257, 28 November 1903, Page 3

ANGLO-FRENCH RELATIONS.

SIGNIFICANT SPEECHES. Received Nov. 27, 10.26 p.m. PARIS, Sep. 27. Sir AU/irt Brassey was the chief spokesman in French of the British Parliamentarians visiting France. They were accorded a splendid reception at L'Elysee, President Loubet responded very sympathetically to the sentiments of a closer entente in the interests of peace, civilisation and humanity. Afterwards he gave the toast, "King Edward, Queen AiejcantJfef; anid the whole British liation," remarkjiivg : " I cannot rei from i|(om recalling the work of peace to which you are so sincerely attached. Perhaps I have some right to associate myself with it within the limits allowed me by Constitution since I have had the honor of receiving the inspiiers of this great idea, and since the Czar has been king enough to confide in ine on the subject from its inception. (Cheers.) The work was inaugurated at the Hague Arbitration Tribunal, and was stillin its inftyncy. The two great nations in Western Europe should rejoice in having been the first in sigjning a treaty of arbitration and giving an example which I hope will be followed Ibty many others, and that the movement will not stop. I am responding to your sentiments as well as those of my countrymen in hoping that the work in which we are together engaged will receive, its crown. (Chjoers.) H'otis. Holdsworth and Avebury responded, expressing the hope that Britain and France, whose interests were identical, would obviate every possibility of a mutual war, thus conferring a 1 boon on Europe, besides strengthening their own moral influence. PARIS, Nov. 27.

All Ministers and representatives <rf all parties attended the French Arbitration: Group's dinner to the British Parliamentary visitors. Hon. Avebury, in the course of a speech said that owing to military burdens the time would surely come when manufacturers, including those of Britain, wool I'd find it extremely difficult to compete with those of America and Australia, who were less heavily burtleneß. M. Combes declared that no work since the abolition of slavery was more ■deserving of the support of generous minds than international arbitration. His opinion was that Britain ratified in advance the recent treaty by breaking with the past, and pointing to the yet unknown horizon. Time played a part in the evolution of the treaty, aided toy commercial relations. The treaty was the full germ of treaties to come, and he hoped the scope would be beneficently extended. His good wishes 'in the matter were not intended to trespass on M. Delcasse's initiative, and he embraced in his provisions of the future the legitimate interests of other nations. He hoped Europe would be mindful of the happy change in Anglo-French relations, and yield to the present peaceful wind. He concluded : " I toast this hope, and couple with it the name of sovereigns to whom the present rapprochement is due, King Edward and Queen Alexander of England." (Cheers).