L'ENTENTE CORDIALE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 134, 8 June 1929, Page 7 (Supplement)

L'ENTENTE CORDIALE.

STRONGER THAN EVER.

ANGLO-FRENCH FRIENDSHIP.

LEADING FRENCH OPINIONS.

The twenty-fifth anniversary of the Entente Cordiale was recently cele'brated 4 at Cannes. The political leaders of France sent the following messages to the British people to mark the occasion:—

M. Alexandre Millerand, former President of the French Republic—"l join heartily all those who celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary, and I express the wish that the peoples of France and England will always remain bound by the same ties of friendship, because their Entente Cordiale is the most important guarantee of peace, .and will ever be at the service of civilisation and humanity. By co-operation, each of those nations can easily follow its historical destiny and fulfil its obligations to the world." M. Georges Clemenceau, former Prime Minister of France. —"I am old, and my age gives me the right to be silent if I wish. People may think I am dead because I do not trouble about politics any more. Those who wish to know what has been and what is still the Entente Cordiale have only to open their eyes. It is all very simple, and needs no ; further explanation." M. Paul Painleve, French Minister of War and former Prime Minister of Frnnce.—"l greet with the utmost pleasure the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Entente Cordiale, of which I was an ardent supporter from its inception, as I have always been convinced that the co-operation of our two nations could maintain and preserve the peace of the

world. I hope that in the future the two peoples will also follow their destinies side by side, and that their fraternity will become an indestructible guarantee for the preservation of world peace. It is the noblest task to which France and England have devoted themselvps, and the greatest service they can add to the great many they have already rendered to civilisation, and humanity."

M. Paul Boncour, former Minister. — "I sincerely hope that Franco-British friendship will ever be as warm as it is now, and that it will thereby become jan example for all the peoples of the world, with regard to their political, economic and spiritual co-operation and goodwill in the interests of peace." M. Yves le Trocquer, former Minister and chairman of the French Channel Tunnel Committee—"The late Marshal Foch once said that if the Channel tunnel had existed in 1914, the Great War would have been ended in a couple of months. I consider as most significant the fact that the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Entente Cordiale coincides with the reopening of discussions concerning the Channel tunnel. It is a natural sequel to the friendly relations that have existed between the two countries. The Entente Cordiale will help towards the realisation of that great work for the sake of humanity." M. Henri de Jouvenel, former French delegate at the League of Nations. — "The Entente Cordiale has been and will ever remain a living force, binding together our two great nations. ("Star" and Anglo-American N.S.—Copyright.)