The Hawera Star TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1927 BRITAIN AND FRANCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 17 May 1927, Page 4

The Hawera Star

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1927 BRITAIN AND FRANCE.

Delivered every evening by 5 o’clock in Hawera, Manaia, Nortoanby, Okaiawa. Eltkam, Mangatoki. Kaponga, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea. Waveriey, Mokoia. Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere. Fraser Hoad and Ararata

A visit by the titular head of one State to that of another always denotes the existence of good feeling between their respective countries. Hence the King’s invitation to M. Doumergue, President of the French Republic, and its acceptance may be interpreted as a sign that Britain and France are on excellent I terms. The two countries have been friends ever since the establishment of the Entente, and the bond has been strengthened by their comradeship in arms; but it would be idle to pretend that they have always been in complete accord. Friends reserve the right of candid criticism, of which both have availed themselves. If their relations be viewed in retrospect it will be seen that not infrequently a rift lias developed in the lute of harmony. There have been many occasions upon which the French have reproached the British with callousness and indifference. The British have retorted that the French were vindictive and unreasonable. The two nations differ profoundly in temperament. Quite trivial incidents have created an unfortunate impression. Thus the fact that in one of the battles of the Western front a British regiment went into action kicking a football and that British officers rode to hounds behind the lines was taken to indicate a spirit of levity which was deplorable in the circumstances. Again, when a conference was sitting at Nice to consider the enforcement of the sanctions against Germany, Mr Lloyd George initiated M. Briand into the mysteries of golf. Thb was held to have been in very bad taste, seeing that such grave matters were iu issue. It may seem extraordinary that , such insignificant things should have given offence, but they aroused quite acrimonious comment at the time. Also, 'the French attitude to the British debt has illustrated the truth of the aphor-. ism hat while a small loan makes a grateful debtor a large one makes an enemy. French susceptibilities are very [easily ruffled on this point. Even the consummate tact of Lord Balfour could not deprive of its sting his gentle reminder that France owed Britain an enormous sum, and that proposals for a settlement would be welcomed. Britain was denounced as a heartless usurer. British tourists, whom the fall in the franc and the prospect of a cheap holiday had attracted to PaTis in large numbers, were hissed in the streets. They were accused of turning France’s dire financial straits to their advantage. A report, which proved to be baseless, that Britain had encroached upon France’s sphere in Syria provoked a vehement outburst. Not since the days of the Fashoda affair had Britain been so unpopular in France. That tempest soon abated, but the question of the policy to be adopted towards Germany was a long-continuing source of friction between the two countries. Soon after the war Mr Lloyd George appreciated the futility of perpetuating the quarrel. He was prepared to extend the olive branch, and he sought to temper the wind of French animosity. His successors took the same line. The French were hurt and bewildered by Britain’s apparent solicitude for her late foe. For a considerable time, however, in AngloFrench relations the barometer has been rising, until now it registers "set fair.” As long as France could not bring herself to bury the hatchet with Germany Britain had to run the risk of incurring French displeasure by her attempts co promote a better understanding. While France remained unreconciled, the role of peacemaker, which rendered her officious and intrusive in French eyes, was thrust upon Britain; but when France decided to let bygones be bygones -witli Germany the chief cause of disagreement with Britain vanished. No longer are Anglo-French relations disturbed by sporadic outbursts which excite opinion and flutter the diplomatic dovecots. No longer need Britain irritate France by her endeavours to hold the balance even for Germany. The Franco-German rapprochement has removed the principal reason for these ebullitions, and has dissipated the cloud which from time to time threatened to darken the AngloFrench horizon.