THE KING IN FRANCE.

Grey River Argus, 16 May 1922, Page 8

THE KING IN FRANCE.

HIS SPEECH ON BATTLEFIELDS. LIKED BY FRENCH PEOPLE. [A. and N. Z. Cable Association] PARIS, May 14. France is deeply moved by the King’s noble words at Terlingthun, especially the following quotation: —“In this fair land, France, which sustained the utmost fury the long strife out, our brothers are numbered by hundreds of thousands. They lie in the keeping of a tried and generous friend, a resolute chivalrous comrade in arms, who with ready and quick sympathy, has set aside for ever the soil in which they sleep, so that we and our descendants may for all time reverently tend ami preserve their restign places. It ha vain any times asked myself in the tours-* of my pilgrimage whether there can be more potent advocates for peace upon the earth through the years to com * than this massed multitude of silent witnesses to the desolation of war.” The whole Press pays a warm tribute to the King’s speech. Many newspapers pointedly differentiate between the speech and Mr Lloyd George’s atttiude towards France at Genoa contending that Lloyd George does not represent English feeling. “Le Figaro’’ states: “There issued from every sentence of the King’s speech a high emotion. Who knows but the old hatreds which separated France and England lie buried in the graves of our heroes, and that even the monstrous efforts of politicians will fails to re-awake them?” “Republique Francais” states: “The King’s pious pilgrimage comes opportunely to remind an exasperated French nation that Lloyd George is not England. ’ ’ “Le Rappel” suggests that some kind friend should translate the King’s speech into English for the benefit of Mr Lloyd George. President Millerand replying to tloKing’s message* on the eve of his departure from Boulogne, expressing th ? Empire’s gratitude to France for the cemeteries hallowed by memories, com mon sorrows and glories states: France will never forget the sublime sacrifice of the British soldiers in the course of the terrible glorious struggle against unjust aggression. The memory of the heroes of the British Army will for ever remain piously honoured in tieland where they fought so magnificently together. With the French nation and Government L join in the honing--of your Majesty has just done Io tieglorious British and French soldiers who for ever have united in gratitude and admiration for the two countries. King George declined, on constitutional grouds, President Millerand’s proposal to meet during the tour of the battlefields. The King explained that a meeting between the two heads of tho States during the Genoa difference would assume a political aspect was desirable to avoid. The “Sunday Times’s” Paris correspondent expresses the hope that the King’s refusal will terminate the persistent efforts made by the Frnech Press t.o present the King as opposed to the policy of his Ministers. LONDON, May 14. The King and Queen have returned to London, and were enthusiastically welcomed byMrowds during the drive to Buckingham Palace.