FRANCO-BRITISH TALKS.

Evening Star, Issue 21945, 4 February 1935, Page 8

FRANCO-BRITISH TALKS.

The Fra neo-British talks in London seem to bo taking the best direction. It has never been easy for French and British policy to work together with the perfection of understanding. There was great enthusiasm over the Entente Cordiale when that was established before the war, but the years which followed the war did not fail to produce an impression in Britisli minds that the French were difficult allies. When relations ran most smoothly the British Foreign Office was accused by Liberals of sacrificing too much to French demands, particularly in matters where a policy of wider concession would have had good effects in Germany. From time to time there has been talk of re-estab-lishing the Entente with -somethiig of its first enthusiasm, but the temperamental differences of the two nations have always placed difficulties in the way. Now it appears as if something of the kind may be accomplished, and there will be no need for other nations to resent the rapprochement, because it is no narrow alliance which British and French Ministers have been discussing, but an understanding meant to be extended to others for the good of all. For that purpose M. Flandin, the French Prime Minister, and M. Laval, Foreign Minister, have been in London, and from their conversations with British statesmen the best portents are drawn. A fairly authoritative forecast of the scope of the discussions was that France should abrogate the military restrictions placed on Germany by the Versailles Treaty, making it easier for that Power to join in a new plan for a general limitation of armaments and to enter the League of Nations. There should be small difficulty in the abrogation, because if Germany chooses to defy the treaty restrictions there is no Power or combination of Powers in Europe that is prepared to take steps to enforce them. There are reports also that, for a satisfactory' return, no doubt, France will lie ready to pledge the use of her air force for the protection of Britain if the Island Race should be threatened from the air, an arrangement that would set limits to the necessity for expanding Great Britain’s air force. According to a French news agency, this suggestion goes further, and would provide for a defensive air agreement in which Germany, Belgium, and Italy would all lie included. Extension of the Danubian pact for the economic restoration of Austria and Hungary and completion of the “ Eastern Locarno,” which has hung fire very lamentably since it was foreshadowed as offering a “ new element of hope ” to the world more than six months ago, are said to be also under discussion. If Germany can be brought into these movements there will indeed be a “ new element of hope.” ‘ France on Edge ’ was the title under which a Britisli visitor described his impressions of that country a few weeks before Christmas. Aeroplanes, for defence against Germany, were being built at frantic speed. The basis of the French policy in regard to armaments, he observed, “ would appear to be a peculiar kind of inferiority complex. No Frenchman, it seems, would feel secure unless his country’s armed forces—both in men and material —were at least four times as numerous as corresponding German items. As a matter of fact, probably a ratio of two to one would suffice to keep the Germans not only out of Alsace and the Saar (if the latter were considered desirable), but also out of pre-war France generally.” But all countries were on edge towards the end of last year. The international outlook lias brightened n more than one respect since then, and if the general sense of security can be increased by new 'agreements even armaments limitation may become a practicable course.

The rise of a penny per pound in the price of bflutter a few days ago is ascribable to the advance reported from London, not to a levering up in New Zealand.

A change in the ralway service that Dunedin and Christchurch residents should bear in mind is to come about to-morrow. The time-table of the expresses running between those two cities is altered to the schedule that commonly obtains from the end of the holiday period till .Easter. The 8.40 express is to leave Dunedin on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and the 11.40 daily except Mondays. This arrangement has been found to work satisfactorily in previous years.

Low water has been exceptionally low on the St. Clair beach in the past few days, the tide receding so far as to reveal stretches of the sands not often seen. It is noticed that a depression extends on a line with the outermost piles of the groynes, a firm bank appearing between that depression and the lap of the tide. Another point is that the beach is just now peculiarly flat, thus forming a beautiful parade at low water, the very thing to delight paddlers. Many women and children are thus using the beach for the relief of sore feet and weak ankles. Though the level is low a considerable quantity of sand has been recently washed up in the stony corner close to the swimming pool.

In very hot weather such as has been experienced of late in New Zealand house flies are usually a nuisance. It is one of the blessings of this sunshiny summer that this trouble has not appeared generally. Housewives in Dunedin are thankful for the deliverance, and cooks are pleased to be able to carry on without severely darkening the rooms wherein they work. When the grand jury was being empanelled in the Supreme Court this morning Peter Gray failed to answer to his name. He later attended, and explained that he had misread the notice of the date. The explanation was accepted. For non-attendance Leonard Thomas Oliver, a common juror, was fined £5, unless cause be shown.

In the role of ambulance officer, the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. C. E. Macmillan) assisted to carry a farmer who had suffered a broken leg threequarters of a mile near Raglan on Friday afternoon. The Minister was returning in Mr T. Parker’s car from a visit to Bryant house when he heard cries. He found Mr B. H. Pegler, a farmet of Karioi, lying in a paddock helpless having been thrown from his horse some time previously. The Minister and his party carried the man to a neighbouring farmhouse and after receiving medical attention he was removed to hospital at Hamilton. The Postmaster-general (Hon. A. Hamilton) has been informed (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) that Mr D. J. Diedrich, of Hokitika, reports the finding of a snip’s lifeboat on Friday morning near Waitaha Bluff, twenty-nine miles south of Hokitika. The boat has been newly painted, blue in the upper portion and red in the lower. It bears no name.

A total of twenty-four persons were assisted from the surf by the lifesaving teams at Fitzroy Beach during the week-end (says a New Plymouth Press Association message), several of them being in a fairly exhausted condition when brought to shore. On one occasion, eight were in difficulties at once. Though the weather has been calm and hot, the sea along the West Coast has been disturbed with a heavy swell, and a strong backwash has developed on occasions.

Three fairly lajse contracts for the improvement of roads between Milton and Palmerston have been let by the Main Highways Board, the expenditure thus involved aggregating £135,000. One is for the bituminous sealing of twelve and a-half miles between Henley Ferry and Milton, the contractors being New Zealand Highway Constructors. Another is for a smoothing coat on the seven and a-half miles from the Dunedin boundary near the Brown House to Waitati. the contractor for that job is Mr J. H. Fulton. The third is for sealing from Waitati to Merton, a distance of seven and a-half miles that includes the once-dreaded Kilmog hill. This work is undertaken by New Zealand Highway Constructors. No time is to be lost in effecting these ameliorating operations; in fact, the three works are already in hand under the direction of Mr T. M. Ball and his staff. A Carterton Press Association telegram states that Mr Ben Roberts, of Parkvale, who has been nominated for the Dairy Control Board suggests that ns there are likely to be many candidates for the board they should be given an opportunity of addressing Dairy Company directors and Federations, expressing the policy the candidate .would adopt, if elected, thus further suggests that an itinerary should be arranged. The Postal authorities advise that the Maheno left Melbourne for Bluff on Thursday with fifteen bags cf Australian mail for Dunedin, and the Monowai and Omana left Sydney tor Wellington on Friday with eighteen bags of Australian mail and thirteen parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The Maheuo’s mail is due this evening, the Monowai’s to-morrow, and the Omana’s on Thursday or Friday. On entering the refreshment rooms at Friendly Bay this morning it was found that the till had been rifled and 30s in cash taken, it is thought that ihe burglary took place some time last night, as the premises were occupied during the day. The lock of the back entrance had been forced.- —Oamaru correspondent.

The tug Dunedin was called to Cape Saunders yesterday afternoon where a fishing motor boat was reported to ne in trouble near the rocks. The boat was the Eileen on its way to Rlnff in charge of its new owners. Tin tug towed it back to Port Chalmers. Late last night two local men left Port Chalmers for Bluff in the launch.

A Nelson Association message slates that the Bishop of Nelson preached in the open air on Tahuna sands yesterday afternoon, when there were hundreds of bathers, partly to remind listeners in connection with the Anniversary Day celebrations that there were open air services on the waterfront in the early days of settlement, and also to take the message of Christ to those on the beach. , Of the many attractive Sunday excursions controlled by the Railways Department that to Timaru is perhaps the most popular. Yesterday’s trip to this favoured South Canterbury resort was no exception, about 550 passengers being on board when the train left Dunedin shortly before 7.30 a.m. At the intermediate stations, especially Palmerston and Oamaru, the brilliant sunshine, a congenial journey up the coast, and bathing amidst 'ideal surroundings successfully tempted a further large quota, of passengers. Consequently, it was a full train that arrived at mid-day at Timaru, which was also the Mecca of two trains from Christchurch. The majority of the passengers basked in the. sun and bathed at Caroline Bay, but a largo number also visited friends. A departure was made at 5 o’clock, Dunedin being readied again alter a smart journey. at approximately 9.25 p.m.

A slight earthquake was felt at Carterton yesterday afternoon (says a Press Association telegram). Through his attention being momentarily distracted by two bees which settled on some flowers in his motor car, Mr Arthur Barnett, a well-known citizen, lost control of the vehicle while proceeding on Saturday afternoon along George street, and crashed into a telegraph post. Air Barnett fortunately escaped serious injury, but suffered slightly from shock. The force of tho impact damaged the front of the car, while the post was snapped in two.

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