SAFETY OF FRANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 January 1922, Page 5

SAFETY OF FRANCE.

GUARANTEE BY BRITAIN. IF GERMANY ATTACKS. PREMIER PROMISES HEEP. NO AGGRESSIVE PACT. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyrigtt Received Jan. 12, 5.5 Cannes, Jan. 12. Mr. Lloyd George has issued a statement regarding the Anglo-French pact. He says:— ‘The British Government strongly lesire that the Cannes Conference should lead to definite results approved by French and British sentiment and the opinion of Europe as a whole. Failure would have a very bad effect >n the relations of the two countries, and Europe would regard such a consequence with dismay. The British Government consider there are two principal reasons for the French anxiety; firstly reparations, and secondly, France is naturally anxious about her future safety. France has been inraded four times in 120 years. In Britain trade has been derasted as terribly as French soil. The maintenance of our unemployed costs £2,000,000 weekly. Unemployment in Italy and Belgium is serious and Russia is in the ’Tip of famine. <

“The problem before France and Britain is how to meet their respective necessities by common action in regard to preparations. Britain is prepared to make considerable sacrifices. As for the safety of France against invasion Britain will regard it as an interest of her own, and is prepared to undertake that in the event of unprovoked German aggression against French soil Britain will place her forces on the side of France. This guarantee will not only safe-guard France, but will make a German attack extremely improbable.

NO ACTUAL ALLIANCE. ••The British .Government believe both objects would be met by an understanding of the two nations to stand together against an unprovoked attack upon French soil by Germany. One means is by an offensive and defensive alliance. Though this might seem desirable to France it would not in reality serve her interests well, while the British people are not willing to be committed to military liabilities for breaches of the peace of Central or Fast pm Europe. Such an alliance would be strongly opposed by large sections of the community, but a guarantee to stand together in the event of unprovoked German aggression would be supported by the opinion of the whole Empire.” Mr. Lloyd George said he proposed to draft the treaty, which is not published with this memorandum, in a form best calculated to protect the common interest of both Powers in Western Europe. To give effect to the treaty, however, it should be accompanied by a complete Entente of the two countries, the first condition being avoidance of naval competition. British opinion will inevitably insist on a heavy programme of anti-submarine craft if the French submarine programme 5s carried out. The British Government propose, as a condition of the treaty, that the Admiralties of the two countries should confer in order that competition in shipbuilding may be avoided. Mr. Lloyd George stated the economic collapse of Central and Eastern Europe was the most serious factor in the paralysis of trade and it could not be remedied unless the Russian produce markets are again available to the world. It was most important to deal direct with the heads of the Russian Government, but certain assurances and guarantees were essential if the Russian Government desired foreign credit. It must undertake, firstly, to recognise all public debts and obligations, and, secondly, to establish a legal system which would be in forced in connection with commercial contracts. Finally, adequate means of exchange must be available.

NEAR EAST PEACE. The British Government lays down the following principles:—(l) All nations to undertake to refrain from propaganda subversive to the order and established political systems of other countries; (2) all countries should join in undertaking to refrain from aggression against their neighbors. It was indispensable, Mr. Lloyd George states, to a complete Entente that peace in the Near East should be restored and absolute agreement between France and Britain regarding the policy to be pursued. In conclusion is was essential that the division of the European nations into two mighty camps should not be perpetuated by narrow fears on the part of the victor nations, or secret projects of revenge on the part of the vanquished. It was essential that rivalries which were generated by the emancipation of nations since the war should be averted, and that the conflict between rival economic systems, which th* Russian revolution so greatly intensified, should not culminate in international war. It was the British Government’s partitular desire that this Entente between Britain and France, so far from excluding other nations, should form the basis of a wider scheme of international eo-operation to ensure peace in Europe as a whole. Britain offered France and Italy her intimate and earnest co-operation in building up a great system of European accord, which would put the maintenance of peace between nations and the reduction of national armaments in the forefront of their aims.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.