The Daily News TUESDAY, JUNE 2. ANGLO-FRENCH RELATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 138, 2 June 1908, Page 2

The Daily News TUESDAY, JUNE 2. ANGLO-FRENCH RELATIONS.

I'.U- thirty year* after Waterloo tin* I'ri'iH-Ji people <'iieriAed till!' hope "I <Mic dav consuimimtiiio- a great rewtige ;;|iii!l "l;l jKMfidi: Albion.' - 1 ' Memory of tile 1 StH .Tune, 181.'. rankled. With the thii.i N'apoleon (rami' a period vf urnity. As iillics Britain mid ]''ra"Ke -cut their armies to tin- Crimea. It has I i cn broadly allirmcd. however, that in !he morning of Inkerman, when tiOOO British troops stayed the progress of lii.Otlrt Russians, tile I'ri'iicii, in reniem--I'iaui'C of Waterloo, for two hours dallied in t.lieir quarters before joining in repelling the foe. As the. recollection of one great cause of grief is deadened it not obliterated l>v .the occurrence of a still greater talise of grief, so the calamities anil the humiliations that fell upon France in 1872 directed the antipathies of the French to another i|mirier than her old-time foes across the Channel. Waterloo sank into ancient history; it was of as little consequence Agineourt; the memories of Gravelot to, ° Sedan, and Paris became all in

With the advent of Edward the Seventh another change was wrought. As Prince of Wales his Majesty was a frequent, visitor to the gay city. German relationships and associations notwithstandin.r he admired and loved the French people: their art. their taste, their generous light heavledm-s appealed to him: lie knew his Paris as well as ho did his Loudon. It was with France King Kdward began his work its "peace-maker." the happy name by which he will be known in' history in the days to come. Very largely the "entente" is the result of Ms Maj'estv's onaoavors. The frequent visits of his Majesty to Pans have been appreciated and reciprocated bv return visits by the President ofJ ho n'epublie. The Franco-Anglican Exhibition resulted from the cordial friendship established between the two peoples, and now we have had President Fallieros as the guest of the nation located a| St. .lames' Palace, in close association with the King arid Queen, and surrounded by the I'oval Family and the nobles of the land, whilst out of doors the people, following the lead given by i'lcir monarch, cheered him heartily and enthttsiatically.

Ml this must prove greatly gratitytng In such a people if the French, and it j, not at. all surprising that with characteristic impulsiveness they should imtit- iliatclv begin to talk about an alliance ami even tin' «-omliJ.i«tis upon which it should '«' ba*ed. ICngland, it i* trim, is in alliance with Japan, a nation I'rniii her in another hemisphere. and tin- alliance is deigned to ensure -unrcmacv of both nations each in its particular sphere, ami by superior power maintain justiee and enforce peace. As a general principle, however, allianceform no part of tlie policy of the Motherland. Jiritish statesmen have no desire that their country should be in any wav involved liv the jealousies, maehmatiim*. and intrigues that are loutinnally going on in connection with Continental a Hairs. In her pride, and her strength she sits alone, tree and untrammelled, at one the arbiter and the judge. Did she enter into an alliance willi any Contiimtal people., that commanding [ii>.-ilion would lie immediately abrogated; she would drop to I lie low h vel ni' a participant in national Mpiabibles. Her Uolatod situation and her overwhelmingly powerful Ik'et enable hello piir-ue ii'er -.iiiL-lc-haiideil pulii-v urn u„lv wilh a i-iiuiniiiiidinv: dignity, lull with marked a.haute.".■ (o the. whole civilia-d world.

(inly a few months ago a striking instance t>f llh' power (p. England in this rc-pcel was afforded. Tl um-hh. ing cordiality taking place Iftwetn flic l-iendl and'tlu- ISmi-li did i>«A i.f-i-i wilh tin' appreciation of (ienna-iy. 1-ritinc. apparently, had dircd t" i!" something without the have of the ireat iiiloi-nieijui.l. There were signs "nf rc-lh-sii,--s; uf a gathering liosliliiy. dcrinaiiy. a> history'reveals, is lv.lhor

skilful in working up grounds fur quarrel with her neighbors when they seem to grow too prosperous or strong. Suddenly, the whole hostile moveninjit died away; it vanished into thin air. Then, one morning all England woke up to learn that if the slightest aggressive movement had been made by Germany against France a British licet would have at once put to sea. .No writer in the piess, no Kngli-liniau raised a voice in protest. Out of respect for Herman susceptibilities it was desired the facts ,-hould not be known: out of respect for Gorman -usceptibiiilic.-, scarcely a comment was passed upon the incident, hill it was made clear thai Kngland would stand no nonsense, and Germany had withdrawn before the menace of her power. What, cannot the,, people of France and Kngland embrace without the leave of Oormany'; What, if a nation that (lerinany deems to be weaker in arms than heiself chooses to make cordial advances to Kngland is she t„ he subject to iiisiili and invasion by this jealous domineering Rower';

Ileyond a doubt the incident exercised a vol'v nowclflll effect upon the people of franco, and has resulted very differently from what was contemplated wii-n O'Tmany became angry and re-iles.s. |',videutr ot (his was given ill London w-s----terdav: bowind question it will again be afforded'in I'aris to-morrow. In llerlin (he anger may have developed into furious rage, bill the hand of tile British I'remier is very near a telephone bell. Kngland stand-' for right. She has no need for alliances to enable her to protect the weak her friends. In all the relationship- into which she may enter she will sec that justice is done. Neither l-'ranee nor England is aggressive; of bolli the desire, is peace, and they can work together to ensure the maintenance of peace without any binding pledge to support each other. ' If an alliance existed, France, an.xioiis to receive Alsace and Lorraine, might in lac strength of it rush info a quarrel dragging the Motherland wilh her. The statesmen of England are too wise not to fores,,- -net, ; , cntiimeiicv. Trade. cordiality, love. „elco, ,lwa'\~. bill, no alliances. |-:„gh ~i„-l remain solitary in her strength ahm,-. olnioitslv that is her allotted destiny.