BRITAIN AND FRANCE.

Grey River Argus, 19 January 1922, Page 5

BRITAIN AND FRANCE.

STATEMENT BY LLOYD GEORGE. (Received January 18, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 17. Mr Lloyd George replying to a telegram from M. Poincare, said: “My colleagues and I have received with great satisfaction your cordial reaffirmation on behalf of the new French Government of assurances we exchanged. His Majesty’s Government lias so recently outlined, in published documents, the policy of close co-operation which they desire to maintain with France that a repetition of their views is superflous. Suffice it to say that we regard the safety of French soil against German aggression, the payment of reparation to France for the devastated areas, and the steady maintenance of the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles as common interests of the French and British peoples, which they must stand together to serve. We desire only, as we are glad to see you also desire, so to settle the outstanding problems that nothing may impair the completeness of the entente between our people and yours, and thus carry the comradeship of war into the higher task of bringing European peoples together in a just and binding peace.”

POINCARE’S STATEMENT. DESIRES SOLUTION OF PROBLEM. (Rec. January 18, at 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 17. , Premier Poincare telegraphed to Mr Lloyd George as follows: “I am anxious, in the name of the French Government, to express the assurance which I have already given in my

private capacity during our friendly, conversation on Saturday, that France will be eager to take up, in a most cordial spirit the examination of the various questions still at. issue between England and herself. I am firm in the hope that we shall succeed, with mutual confidence, in solving the problems in the best interests of our countries. The French Government is a faithful interpretation of the wishes of the French Parliament and people. I am convinced that both peoples, who were closely allied on the field of battle, should, with their common interests in the maintenance of peace in Europe, be able to' assure the maintenance of peace in Europe, be able to assure the execution of the treaties they have signed and the reparation for the damage caused by the invasion. ’ ’