NEW ENTENTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1922, Page 5

NEW ENTENTE.

ANGLO-FRENCH ALLIANCE. TEXT OF THE AGREEMENT. BARRIER TO GERMANY. JOINT MILITARY ACTION. The publication of the Anglo-French Pact confirms the forecast cabled last week. It stipulates that joint action shall be taken by British and French naval, military, and air forces in the event of unprovoked attack by Germany. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Jan. 15, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 14. The text of the Anglo-French Pact has been published. It contains five articles as follows: Article I stipulates that joint action shall be taken by the British and French naval, military, and air forces in the event of an unprovoked attack by Germany. Article II requires insistence on the military clauses of the Treaty of Versailles.

Article 111 provides for concerted action in the event of violation of the neutral zone by the German Imperial troops. Article IV makes it clear that the Dominions are only bound if they elect to endorse.

Article V states that the pact will be in force for ten years, but may be renewed.

The introduction says: “Whereas the soil of France has been twice invaded by Germany within living memory, and she is still suffering deeply from devastation wrought by the enemy, and the peoples of France and the British Empire paid a heavy toll of manhood and wealth in overcoming the invasion of the German armies; and whereas the welfare of the European peoples and the economic structure of the world have been profoundly disturbed by the protracted ordeal of war, and whereas guarantees of the security of France against future invasion by Germany are indispensable to the restoration of European stability, the safety of Britain and the safety of the world; and whereas the safeguards contained in clauses forty-two, forty-three and fortyfour of the Versailles Treaty may not sufficiently provide for the defence essential in the common interests of the high contracting parties and maintenance of the peace in Western Europe, His Majesty and the President have agreed on the five articles.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

FRENCH PRESS COMMENT.

THE PROPOSALS WELCOMED. Received Jan. 15, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Jan. 14. . The French papers approve of the timely publication of the Pact. Some assert its abandonment would be a veritable misfortune to both countries The Matin says M. Poincare’s feelings towards England are unalterably profoundly affectionate, but these sentiments do not necessitate acceptance of all the proposals recently made to France, some of which are calculated to destroy rather than consolidate the Entente.

AMERICA WELCOMES PACT.

MR. BALFOUR ON ALLIANCE. Received Jan. 15, 5.5 p.m. Washington, Jan. 13. President Harding, commenting on the Anglo-French Alliance, said the Administration would welcome anything giving their French friends security, so that she could feel she could disarm. Mr. A. J. Balfour thought it could be taken as settled that Anglo French relations were not going to depend on this or that Ministry. There had been many changes in Government since the war and none altered in any substantial fashion the relations between the two great Allied Powers. Neither was it the wish or power of any statesman to bring an end to the friendly feeling, which has been of such infinite importance in the past.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

ITALY’S VIEW.

BETTER TO STRENGTHEN ENTENTE. Received Jan. 14, 5.5 p.m. Cannes, Jan. 13. Britain has exchanged “aides memoire” regarding the Pact. Italy, in a friendly Note, said she could not refrain from observing that it might have been preferable to strengthen the whole Entente instead of concluding a separate agreement for the safety of one frontier.

Mr. Lloyd George, replying, pointed out the menace to Britain from the possibility of a German army being on the French coast and bombarding London, and the fact that the Germans had occupied Paris within living memory. Italy had great natural barriers, so had no need to share the common anxiety of Britain and France, but Britain offered to Italy, as well as to France, an intimate co-operation jn building up a great system of European accord for the maintenance of peace.