FRANCE’S POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1921, Page 5

FRANCE’S POLICY.

A DESIRE FOR PEACE. SECURITY DEMANDED. REPARATION RIGHTS. By Tekcra^b.—Press Assn—Copyright Paris, Oct. 9. Tn an important speech to his constituents at St. Nazaire, M. Briand claimed from his countrymen the necessary authority to speak high and see far in foreign conferences. France, in view of her sacrifices, had a right to demand all the reparations to which she was entitled. France did not want to abuse her strength, but to secure her rights without having recourse to force. “The policy I am pursuing,” he said, “is not one’ that makes thunder and lightning or impregnates public opinion with a mystic wave of enthusiasm which leads the country into catastrophe, whence she comes bleeding, mutilated. perhaps ruined. I know well the difficulty of drawing up a treaty like that of’ Versailles. My critics, like M. Ciemeneeau. ought to understand when they accuse me of failing to make a success. that they left the work unfinished. The Treaty of Versailles needs perpetual retouching. It must be carried out in full accord with the Allies, and. if the spirit of solidarity be broken, then the treatv will be emasculated.”

The French Government was going to America to find the best way to prevent a hotbed of wars. It would do this if only in memory and recognition of the soldiers who crossed the ocean to fight for France-, no country liad a greater desire to limit armaments, but no country had a greater will to remain strong. French security must be assured; France could not be menaced to-morrow.