The Daily News. FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1922. THE ANGLO-FRENCH PACT.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 January 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1922. THE ANGLO-FRENCH PACT.

It would seem that the removal of the danger of war in the Pacific region has once more brought into the limelight the fears of France respecting a possible war of revenge by Germany. The desire of French statesmen to ensure, by every means in their power, the security of their country from invasion is quite natural from their point of view, but it shows they have small faith in the efficacy of the steps already taken by the nations to prevent war, as well as to reduce the burden of armaments. However desirable a defensive alliance between Britain and France may be, even if it is confined to the protection of France’s eastern frontier, it is open to the counter-move pointed out by Italy, namely, the creation of another alliance by other nations, including Germany. Britain is under a pledge to the Dominions not to enter into any foreign alliance of this nature without their approval, and it is satisfactory to note that this obligation is being -duly honored. Reading between the lines, it would seem that France does not repose that confidence in British policy which recent history warrants. She is obsessed with the fear that Britain’s attitude with regard to enabling Germany to recover her financial soundness will tead to expedite the time when the country will regain sufficient strength to undertake another campaign against France, so that she has seized the opportunity for bargaining that in return for certain concessions connected with matters discussed by the Washington Chnference, and the endeavor to restore sound economic conditions, France has persuaded Britain to enter into a pact to come to her aid if and when she is attacked. The Dominions may not regard such an alliance in the same light as the Mother Country, knowing that France is too prone to fly off at a tangent and cause trouble without reason. This is a point, that lias been apparently provided for by Mr. Lloyd George. At the same time it, must be remembered that any nation which conquered France would be a decided menace to Britain, and it is only on that ground that any justification for an Anglo-French alliance rests. The French Premier (M. Briand) has conjured up an imposing picture of general security. “A farreaching agreement has been envisaged,” he said to an interviewer, “similar to the Pacific agreement, compelling all countries summoned to Genoa to guarantee the integrity of their frontiers. Such an agreement, when added to the Anglo-French agreement, would render the possibility of war very distant. ’ ’ So would the Covenant of the League of Nations if faithfully observed, while the association of nations evolved by America would also cover the same ground. The crux of the French contention is practically that no agreement will preserve peace unless it is backed up by armed force. How will that fit in with disarmament? It is a distinct encouragement to militarism, and embodies the old Roman adage that those who desire peace must prepare for war. Curiously enough, French newspapers, in criticising the Pact,, fear /hat it may involve a reduction in the French army, yet at the same time ask: What aid can England give, with her small army, to justify France in diminishing her own means against aggression? France is a military nation—by force of circumstances. Moreover, she is prone to act on impulse and sel.aad AwsUz.ia a t®_,

her friends as well as her enemies. The best thing that could happen to France would be a reduction of her army and an increase of the policy of conciliation, but that is too much to hope for. It is for the units of the British Empire to give the most serious consideration to this Anglo-French Pact before assenting thereto, for the last thing to be encouraged is the rattling of French sabres.