SAFETY OF FRANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1921, Page 5

SAFETY OF FRANCE.

THE MENACE OF GERMANY. GUARANTEES DEMANDED. SPEECH M. BRIAND. By Telegraph.—-Press Assn.—Copyrigtt. Received Dec. 4, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Dec. 2. On his return from Washington the Premier (M. Briand) received an enthusiastic reception. Speaking at the Hotel de Ville, he said he went to America to plead France’s cause. France was always ready to discuss disarmament, but at a conference of this kind, where the decisions must be unanimous, it was sufficient if one country refused to come into line with another for the whole of the proposals to go by the board. France now had a clear conscience. M. Briand paid a special tribute to Mr. A. J. Balfour, and emphasised the significance of Mr. Balfour’s phrase, “At all event' France can never suffer moral isolation.” M. Briand, touching on naval disarmament, said: “France is ready to make the same reductions as her allies, but France cannot forget that Germany still possesses the nucleus of a formidable fighting force—well equipped factories for guns and rifles, and France, without seriously imperilling her national existence, cannot make considerable reductions in her army unless furnished with a guarantee for peace and security in the future. 1 am hurling recriminations at none. Each nation must think of its own security; this liberty of action is necessary to everyone.” Despite the small clouds on the horizon he believed the Washington Conference would be far-reaching. There is no reason why the Allies should become angry and separate and follow divergent paths. They had common memories of an imperishable glory. They might disagree, but because of their blood bond they must always remain united. The newspapers declare that M. Briand is confronted with the most serious Allied crisis over reparations and Angora since the armistice.