WARNING TO FRANCE

Gisborne Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 9611, 6 February 1923, Page 5

WARNING TO FRANCE

BRITAIN BEGINS TO FEEL ENTENTE ENDED.

FRENCH ACTION MAY THROW ) WORLD IN CONFUSION.

GRAVE WORDS BY THE TIMES. United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, Feb. 4. The Times, in an editorial, dealing primarily with the confusion raised by the mystery of the French Notes to Angora, examines the advantages of Anglo-French unity, and concludes: “It is very natural that the British people should wish to know the reaf motive of the Power with whom we have been accustomed in late > ears closely to co-operate. We are accustomed to regard treaties as binding and plighted word as a cont.act that cannot be lightly ignored at the convenience of either party. In the policy the French are pursuing in Ruhr, a policy inspiring England with greatest alarm as to the future of Europe and the world, the French Government knows that Britain entirely disapproves of the invoking of sanctions under the treaty that was the product of the joint efforts of all the Rowers who were allies in the war. The French have aroused in Germany a power of resistance and reckless disregard of all obligations, and have imposed a peace treaty which seems likely to throw the whole work peace into complete confusion. We have no part in this, yet we must bear the consequences. The tradition of close relationship with France, and especially the vivid memories of comradeship in the war, will still prevent many people in England from perceiving the full consequences to ourselves and the world of the headstrong action of France, ff, however, the French Government, in blind infatuation for some obscure: schemes of their own, go so far as to wreck the hope of peace in the Near East, encouraged by the labors of the Lausanne Conference, then the people of this country will begin to feel that for all practical purposes the Entente is ended.”—Times.