The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1920. ANGLO-FRENCH RELATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 April 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1920. ANGLO-FRENCH RELATIONS.

Diplomatically, Britain and France have been exchanging Notes concerning the French advance into the neutral zone in consequence of German troops being sent into the Ruhr district, ostensibly to deal with social disorders. Actually, the Entente is as firm as ever, and the explanations given on both sides leave nothing more to be said, except by those who are bent on making political capital out of the incident. It is only natural that Britain and France should regard the action of Germany from different standpoints—England acting on the high principle that two wrongs do not make a right, and France regarding the advance as a distinct menace to her territory. Britain has always been scrupulously sensitive in regard to her rigid adherence to treaty terms, and that is why Mr. Lloyd George was moved to making rather severe strictures on the French acting directly and without the accord of the other members of the Entente. Germany had to be taken into consideration as well as France, and the chief difficulty to be faced, in view of Germany's failure to carry out the Peace terms, was to prevent Germany from having any cause to excuse her breach of faith by pointing to a similar breach on the part of the Allies. If this aspect of the case is given due consideration, it would seem that Mr Lloyd George, braving the risk of temporary illfeeling in France, showed remarkable resource in the astute way in which he handled the situation so as to be in an unassailable positipn as regards Germany, and a strict upholder of treaty terms in the eyes of the world. At the same time it must not be forgotten that so long as the Entente lasts it is the duty of every member to act only in concert with the others and not independently. No alliance can exist without solidarity. The British Note was undoubtedly couched in severe terms, possibly more so than the occasion demanded. It has, however, to be borne in mind that the hope of the world as regards peace is centred in the Anglo-French Alliance, and takes no account of the United States. It is evident that Lord Derby (British Ambassador at Paris), has clearly explained the reasons for viewing the situation clearly, and has removed all trace of friction—if any existed. There is every probability that Germany deliberately and with evil intent took action that she hoped would lead to an Anglo-French misunder-

standing, and the jubilation of the German newspapers emphasises this view. All due allowance must be made for the French acting with their, characteristic impulsiveness. They have suffered terribly at the hands of the Germans in the past and are feverishly anxious to prevent Germany again being in a position to inflict further injury on France. To such an extent has this fear imbued the minds of the French authorities that, sooner than run any risk of another invasion, they would jeopardise the continuance of the Alliance. The second British Note defines the issues clearly and concisely and points out that the Allies opposed ! the French occupation of German towns, an opposition which the French disregarded. At the same time it was stated that the British were prepared to enforce the retirement of the Germans on the expiration of the time limit. The elation in Germany at the belief that a wedge had been driven into the Entente is natural, though premature, inasmuch as the exchange of Notes between Britain and France has cleared the atmosphere and there now exists a thorough understanding between the two nations. It show 3, however, that German cunning is still to the fore. They are playing for time, contesting every point with prolific excuses and counter moves, hoping to see the Allies disagree. That hope is bound to be unrealised. France and Belgium have shown they will brook no trickery. Britain is determined to have the Treaty provisions carried out, and has not scrupled to make France understand that on the Allies' part there must be no infringement, and that unanimity of action must be maintained. The occasion was one in which half measures would have been of no avail, and it is satisfactory to know that Britain's firm attitude has eventually been accepted in good faith, while it has been an object lesson to the world as to the true meaning of an alliance. There is not the slightest fear that Anglo-French relations will suffer either in cordiality or durability by the judicial, though stern, manner in which the British views were communicated to France. The incident furnishes a fitting opportunity for insistence by the Allies on the immediate performance by Germany of the, whole of her treaty obligations. That should be answer to German elation at what is being inflated into a "great victory."