BRIAND’S TRIUMPH.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 264, 24 October 1916, Page 7

BRIAND’S TRIUMPH.

THRILLING REPLY TO PACIFIST. FRANCE WILL NOT SELL HER BLOOD. A delicate question was raised in the Chandler of Deputies at Paris on September 19th, by M._ RouxC’ostadau, who asked Premier Briand to see to it- that there was not only unity of action on all fronts by the Allies, but also proportionate effectives. Protests were made from various parts of the Chamber against any discussion of the subject of the proportionate number of troops engaged from the different Ent ent Powers. M. Roux-Costadau nevertheless, persisted, saying that France could not expect to give the blood of all her children, and that the Allies should make the necessaryi sacrifices.

Premier Briand, in reply, objected to the question and declared that it was unjust to throw doubt on the efforts of the Allies in such a sacred cause. England, he said, had never said ‘‘No” to any demand for aid. Italy had made the utmost effort she possibly could, considering the difficulties of the mountainous theatres of war in which she was operating. Russia had sent to France her soldiers front across the world. ■‘To-morrow.” continued the Premier, “vou will see this joint action expanding still more. 4 Replying to another speaker, it. Brizon. representing the Allier Department. in the old province of Bourbonnais, who attempted to calculate the economic value of the men who had fallen in the war, Premier Briand said : “M. Brizon has suggested that it is possible for the President of the Council, to bring the war to an end. That is the idea he is trying to propagate, and it is my duty to\lestroy this, propaganda. Your country, M. Brizon, has a splendid past, which should make you love her. This country was seized by the throat after her assailant had passed over the bleeding body of Belgium. To this country which has the honour to.be the champion of right and which has poured out its blood in floods, you isay: ‘Stop the war! Negotiate peace ’’ ” At this point the members of the Chamber rose cheering M. Briand and howling down M. Brizon. Resuming, the Premier said: “You little know France, M. Brizon, if you think she can sell her blood. What peace would make for this country at this moment? It peace were made now it would be a peace of war and a menace to future generations.

“The treacherous blow Germany tried to strike failed, but would be tried afresh. For fortv four years your country worked with a wound in her side. There already gleams on her forehead the aureole of prestige and gloiw. If you wish the ideas of justice to triumph, pray ardently for victory. Otherwise there would be a peace humiliating and dishonourable and such as no Frenchman could desire.”

The Chamber, which was aroused to the utmost enthusiasm by the Premier’s eloquence, voted that the speech should be printed and displayed on all public buildings throughout France.