“SOLID ENTENTE"

Taranaki Daily News, 11 January 1922, Page 5

“SOLID ENTENTE"

ANGLO-FRENCH PACT. A PEACE AGREEMENT. PROPOSAL WELCOMED. ' By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Jan. 10, 5.5 p.m. Cannes, Jan. 9.

The Supreme Council spent the greater part of the day thrashing out the possibilities of a Franco-British alliance. From the French point of view the alliance assumed greater prominence than all other problems.- The majority of French politicians regard It as the corner stone of foreign policy in the immediate future.

M. Loucheur has drawn up a definite memorandum setting out the French view. It is understood M. Briand is quite willing that Britain should take the place which the United States and Britain should have occupied if the Versailles Treaty was carried out. M. Loucheur’s motion proposed the inclusion of the defence of Poland and other weak nations, but it is understood Mr. Lloyd George’s reply was not favorable to guaranteeing anything beyond France’s security.

A high French official, summing up the position to-day, said: “We may not perhaps have a formal alliance, but there will be a solid entente—more precise than we had before. All our enemies play upon the. differences between France and Britain, just as Abdul Hamid played upon the differences between the Powers twenty years ago. On reparation questions the British are showing themselves tres chic; they have shrunk from no sacrifices.”

Correspondents point uut that the pact must be of a character to satisfy the Dominions. It is a peace, not a war, agreement.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

IMPORTANT RESULT. FRANCE AND SUBMARINES. Received Jan. 10, 8.25 p.m. Cannes, Jan. 16. It is semi-officially stated that if an Anglo-Frencli pact is completed France will drop her submarine demands.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.