NO MILITARY ALLIANCE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 34, 3 November 1928, Page 9

NO MILITARY ALLIANCE

BETWEEN BRITAIN AND FRANCE FRIENDSHIP WITH AMERICA DESIRED ASSURING PEACE OF WORLD Lord Cushendun states that Britain is anxious to maintain cordial relations with France, Germany, and Italy, and, above all, to maintain a thorough understanding and friendly relationship with the United States, thus assuring the peace of the world. (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, November 1. lord Cushendun, Acting Foreign Secretary, addressing a meeting at Hartford last night, referred to a passage in his recent speech at; Blackpool, which dealt with the Anglo-French compromise. Having remarked that some surprise had been expressed at his statement that there was no new entente with France because the old entente had never been dissolved, Lord Cushendun said: “The reason why that criticism has been made has been because people have forgotten the history of that entente and have misunderstood its meaning. It used to be almost a commonplace that France and England were natural enemies, but the people of both countries got together and asked why that should be so, and eventually the two. peoples agreed that they should enter Into an entente —a drawing together in friendship. That was not a military alliance, but in 1911. we did have a military alliance with France over and above the established entente. When the war was finished, the military alliance had done its work and came to an end. We have no military alliance with France. We have entered into no fresh engagement with France, but the old friendship still continues, and, I hope, will .still continue.

i “But what has happened since the war has been that by the great Pact of Locarno the entente was extended, so as to Include Germany as well as France. When I say we have still an entente with France, I should add that we also have an entente with Germany. We are anxious to maintain of cordiality and friendship with both those great nations, as well as with Italy. Above all, we desire and are determined to maintain a thorough understanding and friendly relationship with the United States. If we succeed, as we shall, in that aim, then the peace of the world, which is the greatest interest of mankind, is certainly assured.’’